Inside Asian Gaming

IAG MAR 2021年3月 亞博匯 12 VICTORIA ANNOUNCES ROYAL COMMISSION INTO CROWN MELBOURNE 澳維州宣佈皇家調查委員會將對 CROWNMELBOURNE展開調查 亞博匯早報 BREAKFAST BRIEFS AUSTRALIA’S CROWN RESORTS is facing another lengthy inquiry after the Victorian Government announced the establishment of a Royal Commission into its suitability to hold a casino license for flagship property Crown Melbourne. The Royal Commission, which provides the government with substantial powers to call witnesses and compel evidence by way of a public hearing, is Victoria’s response to the recent NSW Bergin Inquiry – which uncovered broad failures in Crown’s governance, particularly around anti-money laundering controls – and a subsequent finding of unsuitability by the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority. Victoria’s Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Melissa Horne, said the government viewed a Royal Commission as the most appropriate way forward. “Following the Bergin Inquiry there were a number of significant issues that came out,” Horne said. “We’ve gone through [the Bergin Report] line by line and have understood our commercial contracts (with Crown) and have taken legal advice as to what the most appropriate response is to those severe findings. “The most appropriate response and one that will protect the Victorian interest the best is a Royal Commission.” According to Horne, the Royal Commission will be fast-tracked with its findings to be reported as early as August and by no later than the end of the year. Crown Melbourne will continue to operate in the meantime. 澳洲維多利亞州政府 宣佈成立皇家調查委 員會（Royal Commission）以調查Crown Melbourne是否適格持有賭牌。澳洲皇冠 度假酒店集團再度面臨漫長的調查。 皇家調查委員會將賦予政府充分的權 力召開聽證會並且傳喚證人及索取證據。 該委員會的成立是維州對近期新南威爾斯 州Bergin Inquiry的回應。後者發現皇冠在 企業管理方面的失誤——尤其是在反洗錢 管控方面，隨後新南威爾斯州獨立酒業和 博彩管理局發現其不適格。 VCGLR部長Melissa Horne表示，政 府認為成立皇家調查委員會為最合適的方 式。 Horne表示：「繼Bergin Inquiry之後 出現了許多重大問題。我們已經逐行閱讀 了Bergin Inquiry，了解了我們與皇冠的商 業合同，並就如何應對這些嚴重的調查結 果徵詢法律意見。」 「最為適當的、也是最能保護維多利 亞州利益的方式，即是皇家調查委員會。」 Horne表示，皇家調查委員會將快速 跟進調查結果，最早將於8月、最遲不晚於 今年年底公佈調查結果。在此期間，Crown Melbourne將繼續運營。