The body tasked with supervising Perth’s Crown Casino has acknowledged failures in addressing conflicts of interest. This much-needed confession arises as a royal inquiry currently probes whether inadequate government supervision contributed to concerns about financial improprieties and compulsive wagering at the casino.
The Western Australian investigation revealed that the Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC) opted not to pursue numerous accusations of money laundering against Crown, with a former agency legal representative dismissing them as “media hype.” The GWC, a part-time panel convening monthly, receives backing from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI).
Furthering anxieties, testimony surfaced indicating that the state’s former lead casino overseer partook in frequent fishing excursions with two Crown personnel.
Fiona Seaward, the attorney acting for DLGSCI, detailed a series of adjustments to be enacted within the GWC and departmental procedures. These modifications encompass obligatory revelation of personal connections with Crown staff and the documentation of presents, perks, and entertainment. Seaward added that the department is presently reevaluating its ethical guidelines and anticipates an integrity assessment from the state’s anti-corruption body and the Public Sector Commission.
Seward acknowledged that the department’s previous management of conflicts of interest wouldn’t be acceptable to current regulatory bodies and suggested that practices might still be somewhat loose. He guaranteed that the department was implementing measures to rectify the situation.
The Royal Commission will also investigate whether Crown Resorts essentially granted themselves unrestricted permission to operate in Perth with the full awareness of the Western Australian authorities.
The investigation is anticipated to conclude shortly, with Crown’s legal representatives and their primary investor, James Packer, making their final attempts at mitigating harm in the near future.
