Crown Resorts has to pay an AU$2m (US$1.3m) fine after allowing 242 self-excluded gamblers to place bets at its Melbourne casino. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Crown Resorts is in hot water again after letting 242 self-excluded gamblers enter its casino in Melbourne, Victoria and gamble. The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has fined the company AU$2m (US$1.3m) for its transgressions from October 2023 to May 2024.

It is illegal in the state for a casino to let self-excluded people step foot on the premises, let alone allow them to place bets. Talking about the penalty, VGCCC Chairperson Fran Thorn explained how Crown failed to protect people and that it’s imperative that vulnerable individuals can trust that gambling operators will carry out their harm prevention policies.

the mistakes weren’t intentional but rather the result of systemic failures

The regulator acknowledged the mistakes weren’t intentional but rather the result of systemic failures. Crown must cooperate with an independent expert to examine its policies regarding self-excluded gamblers and implement recommendations to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

Crown Resorts is no stranger to financial penalties, having paid over AU$250m (US$168m) in the past to the VGCCC alone for historical failings, including anti-money laundering and responsible gambling failures.