Australia’s biggest casino, Crown Melbourne, has attracted the rich and powerful from the day it opened its doors. It’s also been a magnet for organised crime.
Revelations of money laundering and criminal activity have seen Crown’s operations put under the microscope in multiple inquiries, exposing years of concerning conduct.
“Crown puts itself out there as the world of entertainment. It sells a very dangerous product. It needs close scrutiny.” Industry insider 1
Crown is supposed to be subject to strict rules and regulations, so where was the authority in charge of keeping Crown in check?
“The regulator’s been an absolute failure in relation to keeping crime out of the casino.” Gambling policy analyst
On Monday, Four Corners investigates how the Victorian gambling regulator has spectacularly failed.
“Money laundering has been going on at the casino for many years and the regulator has known about it for a long time.” Industry insider 2
Industry insiders with decades of first-hand experience are speaking for the first time about how the regulator allowed crime to flourish under its nose.
“A lot of the things that we would report up the chain … just disappeared into oblivion, we never heard of any further about it.” Industry insider 3
Their revelations expose how and why Crown was not held in check and they say Crown is not the only one that needs to accountable.
“Look what’s happened…we definitely need a regulator that Crown fear.” Industry insider 4
Watchdog or lapdog? reported by Steve Cannane, goes to air on Monday 5th July at 8.30pm on ABC and iview
It is replayed on Tuesday 6th July at 1.00pm and Wednesday 7th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
