Explosive Claims Crown Casino Staff Tampered With Poker Machines

Revealed in federal parliament


Article heading image for Explosive Claims Crown Casino Staff Tampered With Poker Machines

ABC

Crown Casino deliberately tampered with poker machines to increase gamblers' losses while turning a blind eye to drug use and domestic violence, federal parliament has been told.

Damning video evidence from former employee whistleblowers was tabled by Independent MP Andrew Wilkie on Wednesday, accusing the casino of misconduct.

Mr Wilkie said Under parliamentary privilege that while the allegations focused on Crown in Melbourne, they suggested a "broader pattern of misbehaviour" in the poker machine industry.

The whistleblowers allege lower betting options were disabled on machines and buttons modified to allow autoplay - which is banned.

"Moreover, there's software manipulation to increase gambler losses even further - in particular on weekends when the number of naive first-time and casual users is obviously much greater," Mr Wilkie told the lower House Federation Chamber.

The Tasmanian MP said former staff alleged the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation had done nothing to stop the "this shocking criminal misconduct" and in some cases was "complicit in covering it up".

The whistleblowers also allege Crown allowed the use of illicit drugs at the casino, covered up domestic violence and was disinterested in staff who gambled at the venue.

On top of that, they claim the casino avoids scrutiny by the money movement watchdog Austrac of people involved in transactions over $10,00 by tolerating - and "even encouraging" the misuse of identity documents.

"If these allegations are true then Crown would be facilitating money laundering for any number of nefarious reasons like tax fraud, drug running, and even terrorism," Mr Wilkie said.

The MP called on the Victorian and federal governments to investigate the allegations.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, who is responsible for online betting, said the states were responsible for regulating poker machines.

"If there are allegations then it's appropriate for the relevant law enforcement authorities to investigate those," he told Sky News.

"Parliament is a forum where colleagues can make a proposition."

Post

18 October 2017




Listen Live!

Up Next