The Perth Casino Royal Commission has found Crown is not suitable to continue to hold a gaming licence.
Racing and Gaming Minister Tony Buti tabled a 1000-page report in parliament on Thursday, noting the commissioners had made 59 formal recommendations, which the government was considering in detail.
“The royal commission found that the Crown entities are not presently suitable to continue to hold the gaming licence for the Perth casino, or to be concerned in or associated with the organisation and conduct of the Perth casino operations,” Mr Buti said.
“The government accepts these findings.
“The royal commission details the remediation activities, which Crown would need to implement to become suitable, and recommends establishing an independent monitor to oversee those remediation activities.”
Mr Buti confirmed an independent monitor would be established.
He said the government accepted the need to overhaul the regulatory legislation, including increased powers and penalties, and to improve the Gaming and Wagering Commission’s resources.
“The government will move quickly on priority reforms, including giving the minister improved powers to direct the GWC to take immediate steps to mitigate risks associated with casino gaming operations,” Mr Buti said.
The governance and effectiveness of relevant departments and the GWC would also be improved, he added.
But he also noted that Crown and the department had already done “substantial” remediation work.
In a statement, Crown’s managing director and chief executive officer Steve McCann said the company would review the report and “work cooperatively and constructively” with the state government.
“Significant progress has been made with Crown’s transformation program, the implementation of company-wide reforms, and establishing the highest standards of governance,” he said.
“This includes investment in people, systems, processes, culture and a sharp focus on responsible gaming and the prevention of financial crime.
“Crown remains committed to continuous improvement across all facets of the business and is prioritising the delivery of safe and responsible gaming across all of our resorts, including Crown Perth.”
The report comes after months of public hearings to examine whether Crown Perth should continue to hold a casino gaming licence and the effectiveness of the state’s regulatory framework.
The probe is the third faced by Crown Resorts over now substantiated allegations of money laundering at the Perth casino and also at its Melbourne venue.
Billionaire and major shareholder James Packer told the royal commission during one ofxjmtzyw its hearings that he did not attend a single board meeting of Crown Perth’s Burswood Ltd between 2013 to 2016 after he moved overseas.
Mr Packer also conceded there were many “things that should have been done differently” at Crown Perth.
The Bergin inquiry in NSW in 2020 found Crown had “enabled or facilitated” money laundering at its Perth and Melbourne casinos.
Crown was then denied a gaming licence for its new Sydney casino.
But the company kept its Melbourne licence on a two-year effective “probation” basis after the Victorian royal commission.
