Crown Resorts Executive Chairman Helen Coonan will be among a number of directors and executives to give evidence to Victoria’s Royal Commission into Crown Melbourne this week.
According to information from the Victorian government, hearings will resume from Monday 5 July 2021 with senior management and the Board of Directors to give evidence regarding “Crown’s reform program and issues that have arisen throughout the Commission hearings.”
Appearing alongside Coonan will be fellow directors Jane Halton and Antonia Korsanos, CFO Alan McGregor, Executive General manager Nick Weeks as well as Steve McCann –Crown’s new Managing Director and CEO who only joined the company on 1 June.
Among the topics sure to be addressed will be recent revelations that Crown Melbourne had avoided paying up to AU$200 million in taxes by classifying comps, including free parking, as gambling winnings. Crown also revealed via a recent filing that it had received legal advice on likely breaches of the Casino Control Act at Crown Melbourne between 2012 and 2016 that had seen it process more than AU$160 million in gambling funds via credit or debit card processing.
As reported by IAG, Crown’s procedures around gambling addiction have been under the microscope too including reports that one customer spent 96 hours straight on the gaming floor, stopping only for short naps while seated at slot machines.
The Victorian Royal Commission, which was recently granted more time and funding to complete its inquiry, is examining whether Crown Resorts is fit to hold a Victorian casino licence for its flagship business, Crown Melbourne, which opened in 1994.
