A review commissioned by the New South Wales government recommended that a mandatory probe into the activities of the state’s casino licensees be scrapped, local media reported today.
The above-mentioned review was conducted after Australian casino operator Crown Resorts was given the nod to build a A$2-billion-plus integrated resort with a large casino floor at Sydney’s Barangaroo precinct. The company’s main rival in its domestic Australian casino market – The Star Entertainment – currently manages Sydney’s only operational casino, The Star Sydney.
The review calls for the traditional investigations into casino licensees to be abolished in favor of more modern approaches to the state industry’s regulation and the prevention of the use of casinos for illicit activities. Said investigations are conducted once every five years and are intended to check whether a given casino operator is still suitable for the responsibility it has been given and whether the operation of its casino is still in the best interest of NSW residents.
However the state-commissioned review questioned the effectiveness of such investigations saying that in case of any casino-related issues, the Liquor & Gaming NSW, known to be the state’s gambling regulator, is supposed to act in a timely manner and not to wait for several years to identify and address the matter.
The NWS revealed earlier today that the current law could be changed in a manner that would allow for one more probe into The Star Entertainment’s Sydney casino license to be conducted and a single probe into Crown Sydney’s operations to take place after a certain period of time after the casino’s expected 2021 launch. After that, lawmakers will consider the possibility to scrap the investigation procedure completely or to implement certain appropriate and adequate changes.
Under additional recommendations presented in the government-commissioned review, The Star Sydney will be allowed to extend credits to its international VIP players in future. The terms of Crown Sydney’s casino license also includes such provision. Here it is also important to emphasize on the fact that domestic patrons will not be allowed such credits.
On the other hand, there were recommendations that did not win the NSW government’s favor. For instance, state officials decided not to approve the proposed abolishment of casino staff licenses as well as a proposal for local casinos to be allowed to manage their own services for customers with problem gambling behavior.
Under another rejected recommendation, casinos were to be prohibited from allowing knowingly intoxicated customers to gamble at their floors. The government pointed out that current regulations ensure the necessary protection for casino clientèle in that regard and no changes are needed for the time being.
