Player protection concerns overshade opening of the Crown Resort in Sydney

The Crown Resorts opened this Monday in Sydney. After 18 months of waiting, the exclusive casino can now receive VIPs. However, the opening comes up with fears that the problem of gambling addiction could get worse.

Exclusive and nobles establishment

In the morning on Monday it was finally time: Crown employees opened the gates of the exclusive casino for the first time. High rollers have been able to visit the Crown Resorts since then. To get access, you have to be a member of the group’s exclusive casino club. Only then can you go to the casino, which has a facility worth 2.2 billion AUD – the equivalent of 1.5 billion euros. Management is understandably very satisfied with the opening. The Crown Sydney CEO – Simon McGrath – has advertised the casino:

That Casino Set “new standards in terms of luxury and elegance – from the design of the rooms to the overall experience of the members. The salons are flooded with natural light to emphasize our incomparable view of the water, while the surfaces and the furnishings are of the highest quality and quality ”. In the establishment, well-heeled guests could use around 160 gaming tables and 70 electronic gambling offers. There are also over twelve private suites. There, players can pursue gambling in an exclusive ambience.

Inadequate player protection led to License Center 2020

After 18 months, the opening is particularly gratifying for the company. Nevertheless, the Crown Resorts only has a preliminary license. Two years ago, the gaming authority classified the group as unsuitable for casino operation. This happened due to several scandals in which the casino was involved. As a result, compliance and management structures were forced to change a large scale. Nevertheless, there are fears that the opening could increase the risk of play addiction. After all, the company was withdrawn from the license due to defective measures for player protection and for money laundering control.

Concern swings with the opening with

The state investigations that led to the license withdrawal stated that players had spent twelve hours and longer at slot machines for twelve hours and longer. However, the employees of the Crown Resort failed to point out these players to their obviously problematic behavior. Charity organizations are particularly concerned that the conditions could be repeated. Player guards also draw attention to the dangers of the casino operation. A lawyer at the Alliance for Gambling Reform – Tim Costello – criticized the license allocation very much. Costello told Australian media that “the damage through gambling […] was the focus of the investigation”. It was clear “that Crown failed to protect those affected and instead systematically tried to exploit them”.

Therefore, Costello is “deeply concerned about the damage caused by the game”. According to critics Gambling addiction Afford. Even the missions are not beneficial for player protection. For some tables, only 20 AUD – the equivalent of almost 14 $ – are not really advantageous. Because these missions would also potentially enable players from normal financial circumstances to participate in gambling, which increases the risk to the population.

So now the license is in the hands of the Crown Resort. The company must adequately comply with the players’ protection measures. This is the only way to keep the crown resort the license. To ensure player protection, gambling supervision has announced regular checks. It will be shown whether the gaming authority also carries out the announced controls to the required extent. It would only be advisable, after all, it is about player protection. Only with good and sufficient measures that are also met can players be protected from the negative effects of gambling.