Crown admits to major failures in implementing responsible gambling code of conduct

Crown Resorts failed to limit the harm caused by gambling addicts in its casinos, according to Victoria’s royal commission.

Crown has pledged to rethink its responsible gambling program as a result of the investigation’s counsel. Adrian Finanzio, SC, discovered evidence of the operator’s serious failure to follow its responsible gambling code of conduct.

Crown had the money and technology to do more to limit the harm caused by gambling addiction. It was a requirement of its Melbourne casino license, but “motivation may have been lacking,” according to Finanzio.

“Some of the measures outlined as areas for proposed changes concern Crown practices that have been clearly inconsistent with fostering responsible gaming for a long time,” Finanzio said.

“The proposed changes amount to an implied admission that some of Crown’s practices, some of which are quite recent, are inconsistent with the responsible provision of gaming services.”

The commission has demanded minutes from the aforementioned Crown board meeting, which the operator is yet to produce.

Customers at Crown Melbourne were three times more likely to experience gambling harm than others gambling in Victoria. This was according to evidence presented to Commissioner Ray Finkelstein.