Crown Melbourne Casino Faces License Review Amid Money Laundering Scandal

Crown Melbourne Casino, renowned for hosting the iconic Aussie Millions Poker series, is now facing a significant threat to its license. The Victoria state government has initiated a review of Crown Resorts properties, appointing a special commissioner to investigate whether Crown Melbourne is fit to hold a license. This decision comes amidst a series of allegations and admissions related to money laundering and other nefarious activities.

The annual Aussie Millions poker series, which was scheduled for January, has been postponed indefinitely, and the poker room has been emptied. However, the issues facing Crown Melbourne extend beyond the license review and the postponement of the poker series. A whistleblower, Jenny Jiang, who was one of 19 Crown staff arrested for breaking Chinese gambling laws in 2016, is launching a class action lawsuit against the company. Jenny Jiang is upset about being labeled a “gold-digger” by the casino in newspaper ads, stating, “We brought so much revenue, so much business and profit for Crown. And we were just dumped like a used napkin. That's why I feel so angry — I feel so upset with what happened and what they're saying about me.”

In addition to the whistleblower's lawsuit, Crown is also facing a separate shareholder class action. This lawsuit seeks compensation for investors who lost money after the group’s share price tumbled in the wake of the China scandal.