• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Sunday 13 July 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Crown Melbourne whacked with AU$80 million fine for China UnionPay scandal

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Mon 30 May 2022 at 15:45
Going Global

Crown Melbourne

62
SHARES
1.6k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Victoria’s new casino regulator has hit Crown Melbourne with a massive AU$80 million (US$57.5 million) fine for the illegal use of China UnionPay cards – a process uncovered during last year’s Royal Commission.

The record fine, only made possible by recent amendments to the Casino Control Act which raised the maximum fine allowable from AU$1 million (US$715,000) to AU$100 million (US$71.5 million), was announced by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) and comes less than two months after it first launched disciplinary proceedings.

Crown’s China UnionPay process saw Crown Melbourne allow patrons to use credit or debit cards to access funds to gamble, facilitating access to nearly AU$164 million (US$118 million) between 2012 and 2016, from which Crown derived estimated revenue of more than AU$32 million (US$23 million).

The Royal Commission found that the China UnionPay process was in breach of the Casino Control Act 1991.

“Crown’s CUP process was a clandestine, deliberate process, which not only breached the Casino Control Act but was also devised to assist patrons to breach China’s foreign currency exchange restrictions,” said VGCCC Chairperson Fran Thorn.

“Crown was aware of the risk that the CUP process could be illegal but decided to run that risk. In doing so, it showed no regard for upholding its regulatory obligations. Indeed, it went to some lengths to hide what it was doing.”

“Crown benefited handsomely from its illegal conduct. The fine will ensure that Crown is stripped of the revenue it derived from the CUP process and will send a clear message that it must comply with its regulatory obligations.”

The VGCCC said it was also conducting a separate investigation into other mechanisms which persisted after 2016 that enabled cards to be used to access cash at Crown Hotels, which was then potentially used for gambling.

If found to have committed further breaches, each instance may attract a further fine of up to AU$100 million.

The final report of the Royal Commission, delivered in October 2021, found Crown Melbourne unsuitable to hold a casino license in its current form but provided a two-year window in which to return to suitability under the supervision of a government-appointed Special Manager.

RelatedPosts

Renowned gaming lawyer Jamie Nettleton to represent IMGL on Judging Panel for inaugural RTG Global Awards

GLI to continue as Gala Dinner Sponsor for Regulating the Game 2026

Sun 13 Jul 2025 at 05:48
The Star Brisbane postpones poker tournament series due to expected strike action

The Star Brisbane postpones poker tournament series due to expected strike action

Wed 9 Jul 2025 at 14:08
Crown saga claims new scalp as Western Australia’s Chief Casino Officer steps down over conflict of interest claims

Crown Perth deemed suitable to maintain casino license after three-year remediation

Tue 8 Jul 2025 at 12:40
Star to open AU$3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development on 29 August

Star’s Hong Kong partners offer one month reprieve to complete Queen’s Wharf Brisbane deal

Mon 7 Jul 2025 at 08:55
Load More
Tags: AustraliaChina Union PayCrown MelbourneFineFran Thornroyal commissionVictorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission
Share25Share4
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:21

It’s understandable that political observers, academics and members of the public in greenfield jurisdictions would express caution around the legalization...

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:19

Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder’s highly experienced CEO of Gaming, speaks to Inside Asian Gaming about the company’s ongoing transformation...

Honesty is the best policy

Honesty is the best policy

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 14:13

The Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable brought industry stakeholders, politicians and supporters of the government’s Entertainment Complex Bill face to face...

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

by Shaun McCamley
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 13:36

Industry veteran Shaun McCamley delves into the complex history of Sri Lanka’s casino industry at a time when the country...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
Jumbo
568Win

Related Posts

Renowned gaming lawyer Jamie Nettleton to represent IMGL on Judging Panel for inaugural RTG Global Awards

GLI to continue as Gala Dinner Sponsor for Regulating the Game 2026

by Newsdesk
Sun 13 Jul 2025 at 05:48

Leading gaming law and regulation conference Regulating the Game has announced that Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) will return as sponsor of the event’s Gala Dinner in 2026 conference, reaffirming its status as a foundation sponsor. Now in its sixth edition,...

A New Macau

Macau gaming tax hits US$5.6 billion through first six months of 2025

by Newsdesk
Sun 13 Jul 2025 at 05:27

According to data released by Macau’s Financial Services Bureau (DSF), the Macau government’s revenue from gaming taxes in the first six months of 2025 reached MOP$45.3 billion (US$5.60 billion), representing a 1.0% year-on-year increase. It also means gaming tax revenue...

Macau After Dark – MAD 30: Official Highlights Video

Macau After Dark – MAD 30: Official Highlights Video

by Newsdesk
Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 10:38

Leading gaming industry media brand Inside Asian Gaming held its latest edition of Macau After Dark, MAD 30, at Vasco – Bar & Lounge at Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau on Monday 7 July. The event saw leading representatives of the...

OPINION: Macau wants to recruit “foreign” customers? Great! Here are some ideas.

Air Macau suffers more losses, receives near US$300 million capital injection from shareholders

by Pierce Chan
Sat 12 Jul 2025 at 10:36

Air Macau, currently the only airline with an operating license in Macau, is facing continuing losses and recently announced that it has received a capital injection of approximately MOP$2.4 billion (US$297 million) from its shareholders. This is the second capital...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English