17 slots affected
James Packer’s Crown Resorts faces disciplinary action, including fines or even a license suspension, for removing low-betting options for punters on a number of poker machines at its Melbourne casino.
In a statement, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation said the proceedings “relate to the blanking of buttons on certain electronic gaming machines on the casino floor,” allegations that first came to light last year. Commissioners said they have investigated the claims lodged by three whistleblowers and have begun “disciplinary proceedings” against the casino operator. According to ABC News, 17 of more than 2,600 machines were involved.
The whistleblowers alleged that floor technicians at Crown were instructed to remove the button on the machines in question to increase the house edge.
Crown said the removal of the button in question was part of a three-week trial that did not require prior approval from the regulator. Federal MP Andrew Wilkie applauded the move to censure Crown, especially as Crown denied the allegations when they surfaced back in October. At the time, the former employees also accused Crown of instructing its workers to ignore incidents of domestic violence and illicit drug use, provide punters with tools to avoid spin-rate rules, and disregard anti-money laundering laws.
Crown alerted the market that James Packer could be selling some shares of his company that would see his hold maintained at just over 47 percent.
The Australian Financial Review carped that Crown “has a license to make a lot of money, but needs to remain within regulatory boundaries regardless of its desires to squeeze the last drop from the profit lemon. As far as the practice of blanking, this is probably a bridge too far.”
Commissioners looked at the use of blanking buttons over the three weeks between March and April 2017.
