Crown Resorts director Andrew Demetriou has succumbed to growing pressure and announced his resignation after the gaming giant was found not suitable to hold a gaming licence.
However, Crown remains adamant that CEO Ken Barton has not resigned despite media reports claiming he will announce his resignation today.
Mr Demetriou joins fellow directors Guy Jalland and Michael Johnston in quitting amid the Bergin report s bombshell allegations the company was involved in money laundering and had links to organised crime.
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Crown Resorts director Andrew Demetriou speaks during his inquiry hearing in December last year.(Supplied) Crown and Mr Barton are continuing to consider his position having regard to the recommendations and findings of the Commissioner s report, Crown Resorts said in a statement.
Crown Sydney failure leaves NSW government in $400m tax revenue hole smh.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from smh.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
First published on Thu 11 Feb 2021 02.37 EST
The chief executive of Crown Resorts, Ken Barton, and a non-executive director of the casino group, Andrew Demetriou, have reportedly resigned following pressure from gambling regulators in New South Wales and Victoria.
A third director, Harold Mitchell, is believed to be planning to resign after the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) asked him to explain why he was suitable to remain on the board.
The Australian newspaper reported on Thursday night that Barton had offered his resignation and Demetriou had quit.
“I have always been a team player and supported the greater good,” Demetriou said in a statement according to the Australian. “I will therefore step down from the Crown Resorts board to give Crown the best possible chance of becoming suitable to the NSW regulator.”
Last modified on Wed 10 Feb 2021 18.53 EST
Patricia Bergin’s report into Crown Resorts has left the Victorian gambling regulator in a difficult position – and facing the prospect of having oversight of the Melbourne casino, the biggest in the country, stripped away from it.
If a new casino regulator is set up, as the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews proposed on Wednesday, it is likely to be a far different beast to the current authority, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.
To be effective, it will need to be far more aggressive, interventionist and transparent.
On Wednesday, Andrews defended the commission against the perennial attack that it has failed to regulate Crown – an attack that, on the evidence on the public record, unfortunately appears to be correct.
Crown CEO Ken Barton bows to pressure and agrees to resign
ThuThursday 11
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ThuThursday 11
Crown s CEO Ken Barton will resign after pressure from gaming regulators.
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Crown chief executive Ken Barton appears likely to step down in the coming days after bowing to increasing pressure from gaming authorities, following a damning report into the Australian casino giant.
Key points:
Mr Barton is understood to have indicated he intends to resign shortly following a report highly critical of his role
Two Crown board members resigned on Wednesday amid pressure from gambling regulators
Mr Barton met on Thursday with Crown chair Helen Coonan when he offered his resignation, the ABC understands