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The head of the Victorian royal commission into Crown says the company would be getting away with criminality if it was allowed to continue running its Melbourne casino unhindered.
Crown Resorts announced its Melbourne chief executive, Xavier Walsh, would step down half an hour before commissioner Ray Finkelstein, QC, began the final hearings of the months-long probe that has uncovered illegal behaviour. Crown’s lawyer said on Tuesday it accepts the findings and apologises for them.
Xavier Walsh leaving the royal commission last month.
Credit:Eamon Gallagher
Mr Finkelstein, who referenced the possibility of another company taking over the casino, questioned submissions made by Crown’s lawyers urging him to allow the casino to continue with an independent monitor to oversee governance reforms and help the company return to being an acceptable operator.
Dirty money fears as poker machine losses top pre-pandemic levels
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Losses on Victoriaâs poker machines have risen above pre-pandemic levels following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, with gamblers blowing $239 million in January.
One of the stateâs leading gambling experts says money laundering by criminals is likely to be at least partly behind the increased losses, which were $15 million more than those racked up in January 2020 before the pandemic shut down Victoriaâs pokies for seven months.
Victorian gamblers lost $239 million on poker machines last month.
Under-fire Crown Resorts CEO set to resign Crown Resorts CEO Ken Barton is understood to have agreed to resign following a meeting with chair Helen Coonan on Thursday.
Business by Damon Kitney, Lachlan Moffet Gray 11th Feb 2021 6:38 PM
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Subscriber only Under-fire Crown Resorts CEO Ken Barton is understood to have agreed to resign his role following a meeting with chair Helen Coonan on Thursday, amid criticism from the NSW and Victorian gaming regulators over his suitability in light of findings against him in the Bergin report on the James Packer-backed company. But The Australian understands that similarly embattled Crown director Andrew Demetriou is clinging on to his position, despite his suitability also being called into question by the regulators and the Bergin report.
Where were the controls? Crownâs performance needed closer scrutiny
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By Charles Livingstone
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After a year in which the fortunes of Crown casino have been turned on their head, Victorian Gambling Minister Melissa Horne has announced that an unidentified âsessionalâ Commissioner will be appointed to conduct a new inquiry, effectively bringing forward the seventh review of Crownâs suitability.
The impetus for this has come from spectacular revelations unearthed by an inquiry initiated by the NSW regulator, the Independent Liquor and Gambling Authority.