Crown Melbourne Fined US$1.3 Million for Breaching Self-Exclusion Rules

Crown Melbourne has been penalized with a AU$2 million (US$1.3 million) fine by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for allowing 242 individuals who had self-excluded themselves to gamble at the casino. The violations occurred over an eight-month period, from October 2023 to May 2024, raising serious concerns about the casino’s commitment to responsible gambling practices.

Self-exclusion is a program designed to help individuals avoid gambling by permitting them to ban themselves from entering gaming venues. It is intended to protect those at risk of gambling harm. In Victoria, it is illegal for casinos to allow self-excluded individuals to enter, remain, or participate in gambling activities.

VGCCC Chair Fran Thorn emphasized the casino’s obligation to safeguard individuals vulnerable to gambling-related harm. “Those who self-exclude must be able to trust that gambling providers will take all reasonable steps to enforce their decision to avail themselves of this harm prevention initiative,” Ms. Thorn was quoted as saying in a report published by ABC News. “By allowing people who have self-excluded to enter the casino and gamble, Crown has put them at risk of experiencing further gambling harm,” she added.

Crown Melbourne has been directed by the VGCCC to engage an independent expert to evaluate its self-exclusion program. This expert will assess the program’s effectiveness and recommend improvements. According to Ms. Thorn, while the casino’s oversight led to the breaches, many of the self-excluded individuals also attempted to bypass the restrictions and gamble undetected.

The VGCCC’s findings suggest that the failures were systemic rather than a result of intentional disregard by Crown. The Commission has mandated that Crown implement the expert’s recommendations in due course to enhance its self-exclusion management.

The self-exclusion program is a critical component of gambling harm reduction initiatives. By allowing individuals to take proactive steps to avoid gambling, the program aims to mitigate the risks associated with gambling addiction.

In response to the ruling, a Crown spokesperson stated, “Crown is committed to ensuring a safe and responsible gaming environment with a focus on guest wellbeing and harm minimization.” The spokesperson indicated that the casino is collaborating with the VGCCC to resolve the issues identified.

This fine follows a tumultuous period for Crown Melbourne, which had been under intense scrutiny for its operational practices. Earlier this year, the VGCCC completed a two-year probation period and determined that Crown could retain its license to operate Victoria’s only casino, contingent upon improved conduct. This latest fine raises questions about the effectiveness of those improvements.

Crown has incurred a total of AU$700 million (US$470 million) in fines and settlements due to compliance failures that resulted in its designation as unsuitable to operate casinos in Victoria, New South Wales (NSW), and Perth. This includes a significant AU$450 million (US$302 million) settlement with AUSTRAC, the agency overseeing financial crime.

Read related article: Crown Melbourne implements new rules to address gambling-related harm, enhance consumer protection