Crown Resorts Hit with Record AU$120 Million Fine for Gambling Failures

Crown Resorts has been fined a record AU$120 million for failing to adhere to responsible gambling legislation. The casino owners have been under fire for systematic failures related to protecting vulnerable gamblers and matters related to money laundering. A royal commission inquiry concluded that Crown Resorts was part of a pattern of extensive, sustained and systemic failures by Crown that spanned roughly 12 years.

The fine was divided into two parts—AU$100 million for allowing gamblers to wager continually for more than 24 hours, and AU$20 million for failing to prevent gamblers from wedging closed a button to allow continuous play without any manual input. This means that Crown Resorts has been fined a total of AU$200 million during 2022.

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) chair, Fran Thorn, said the casino prioritised profit over responsible gambling obligations. The VGCCC indicated that it is considering further disciplinary action related to other findings of the report. Crown Resorts quickly followed up with an apology saying it was “genuinely remorseful for the failings of the past.”