Crown Resorts has celebrated the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s decision to retain the casino licence for Crown Melbourne.
Coinciding with the venue’s 30-year anniversary, the decision follows two years of speculation after the VGCCC published 33 recommendations for the operator in 2021, with each to be addressed in order for Crown to retain its Melbourne licence.
These recommendations included the appointment of a special manager to oversee the company’s reform agenda, with the appointed individual operating in the post for a two-year period.
As that period has now come to an end, Crown has been considered to have transformed its business in Melbourne, having invested around A$200m into harm minimisation, financial crime, governance, compliance and risk factors.
Crown Melbourne CEO, Mike Volkert, stated: “This outcome is one of the most significant milestones in Crown Melbourne’s 30-year history. It would not have been possible without the efforts of our team members, who have worked diligently over the past two years to implement meaningful change that has truly transformed our business.
“What we have achieved must be a continual focus for everyone at Crown Melbourne. We know the work doesn’t stop here, and we are committed to delivering the highest industry standards and putting the welfare of our guests at the forefront of decision-making, day in and day out.
“Crown Melbourne is now the safest venue in Victoria for gaming and entertainment, and we look forward to continuing to welcome our guests.”
Crown Melbourne will remain under the watch of the VGCCC as, while the commission ‘expects Crown to actively prevent gambling harm, deter criminal activity and deliver on its social and legal obligations to the community’, it plans to ‘watch and act to ensure this occurs’.
Ciaran Carruthers, Crown Resorts CEO, added: “Since the acquisition of Crown Resorts by Blackstone in June 2022, and the appointment of new boards and a new executive leadership team, Crown Resorts has pioneered one of the most complex transformations ever undertaken in Australia.
“Over 10,000 pages of documentation have been submitted and 770 remediation activities have been delivered to our state regulators, fundamentally rebuilding our organisation from the inside out.
“Holding a casino licence is a privilege and an obligation we take extremely seriously. I am proud of what our team has accomplished, and the safe environment Crown Melbourne now operates in.
“Together we have built a stronger, better Crown and our unrelenting focus will remain on delivering the highest standards of integrity, harm minimisation and service excellence across our industry.”
