In Australia, casino operator Crown Resorts Limited is reportedly set to be investigated by government officials after three former employees accused the Melbourne-based giant of deliberately tampering with some of its slot machines along with ignoring evidence of domestic violence and drug abuse.
According to a report from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the claims came to light via a 30-minute video presented to the nation’s Parliament on Wednesday by independent politician and anti-slot campaigner Andrew Wilkie. The whistleblowers purportedly had their identities protected but alleged that staff inside the Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex had altered a number of the Melbourne venue’s 2,628 slots by removing some of their betting options.
“If the allegations are true, it does suggest there is a systemic problem rather than a rogue individual,” Wilkie reportedly told the BBC.
Australia’s Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, reportedly explained that the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre financial intelligence agency would moreover be investigating a claim that some Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex employees had been told to use different player identification cards when processing transactions in excess of $8,000.
Keenan reportedly additionally declared that all of the remaining claims would be ‘thoroughly investigated’ by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.
For its part, Sydney-listed Crown Resorts Limited reportedly stated that it rejected all claims of ‘illegal and improper conduct’ at its Melbourne venue and challenged 55-year-old Wilkie to ‘immediately provide to the relevant authorities all information relating to the matters alleged’.
The BBC reported that this is not the first time that Crown Resorts Limited has faced criticism while the firm is currently being sued along with machine manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure Limited by a former slot player over allegations that the pair’s Dolphin Treasure game is deceptive because it purportedly disguises losses as wins.