• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Macau regulator says monitoring Crown Resorts scenario

Jul 31, 2019 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck, World  


Macau regulator says monitoring Crown Resorts scenario

Macau’s casino regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, also known as DICJ, has told GGRAsia that it is paying attention to the situation in Australia regarding that country’s casino company Crown Resorts Ltd.

Accounts carried in Australian media over the weekend alleged Crown Resorts’ Australian casino business had been a conduit for money laundering and Chinese organised crime activities via high-roller gambling.

One of Macau’s licensed casino operators, Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd, said in May it would pay US$1.2 billion to acquire a 19.99-percent stake in Crown Resorts, thereby becoming its second-biggest stockholder.

Australia’s attorney-general told the country’s parliament on Tuesday that he had referred the media allegations against Crown Resorts – including alleged fast-tracking of visas for a few wealthy overseas gamblers with assistance from the authorities – to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, which would determine whether a further probe were needed.

Macau’s gaming regulator told GGRAsia on Wednesday – in response to our enquiry about whether the Crown Resorts controversy had any impact on Melco Resorts’ suitability in the Macau market: “The DICJ continues to pay attention to the matter. If it’s related to Macau’s gaming industry, the bureau will follow up the matter under its competence.”

GGRAsia first approached Melco Resorts on Monday asking if it had any comment regarding the weekend media claims against Crown Resorts. Melco Resorts acknowledged the same day our enquiry. We had not received any response to our follow-up enquiry at the time this story went online.

The board of Crown Resorts on Wednesday rebutted the allegations carried in the reports published by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald newspapers, along with the 60 Minutes television programme carried on Australia’s Nine Network, calling the reports a “deceitful campaign” against the company.

“As a board, we are extremely concerned for our staff, shareholders and other stakeholders, as much of this unbalanced and sensationalised reporting is based on unsubstantiated allegations, exaggerations, unsupported connections and outright falsehoods,” said the statement filed with the Australian Securities Exchange.

It added: “Crown operates in one of the most highly regulated industries in Australia and takes its responsibility to comply with its obligations very seriously.”

Crown Resorts – which has traditionally been strong in high-stakes play – runs a gaming resort in Melbourne, Victoria; one in Perth, Western Australia; and is developing a third at Barangaroo in Sydney, New South Wales.

The casino firm’s board also stated that the junkets that it works with “are independent operators who arrange for their customers to visit many casinos globally”.

“Crown itself has a robust process for vetting junket operators, including a combination of probity, integrity and police checks, and Crown undertakes regular reviews of these operators in the light of new or additional information,” it said in Wednesday’s statement.

(Updated at 9.20am, Aug 1)


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau satellites may persist past 3-yr transition, says exec
    Macau satellites may persist past 3-yr...

    Jan 19, 2023  

  • Chau ruling marks end of old junket system: observers
    Chau ruling marks end of old junket...

    Jan 18, 2023  

More news
  • Junket boss Levo Chan heard okaying illicit bets: court
    Junket boss Levo Chan heard okaying...

    Jan 30, 2023  

  • Macau visitor momentum kept for post CNY weekend
    Macau visitor momentum kept for post...

    Jan 30, 2023  


Latest News

Junket boss Levo Chan heard okaying illicit bets: court

Junket boss Levo Chan heard okaying illicit bets: court

Jan 30, 2023  

A Macau court was offered evidence on Monday, including of recordings from police-wiretapped telephone conversation, that the prosecution says proves the direct involvement of Levo Chan Weng Lin...
Read More
Macau visitor momentum kept for post CNY weekend

Macau visitor momentum kept for post CNY weekend

Jan 30, 2023  

South Korea extends travel restrictions on China arrivals

South Korea extends travel restrictions on China arrivals

Jan 30, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


451,047

Aggregate number of visitors to Macau during the Chinese New Year holiday period



Most Popular

  • Available Macau casino tables busy at tail of CNY holsAvailable Macau casino tables busy at tail of CNY hols January 27, 2023
  • Almost half million visitors to Macau for 7 days of CNY holsAlmost half million visitors to Macau for 7 days of CNY hols January 30, 2023
  • Macau visitor momentum kept for post CNY weekendMacau visitor momentum kept for post CNY weekend January 30, 2023
  • G2E Asia in-person for Macau in 2023, first time since 2019G2E Asia in-person for Macau in 2023, first time since 2019 January 27, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us