Gaming minister expresses confidence in Crown
Victoria’s gaming minister Marlene Kairouz has expressed confidence that the gaming regulator will investigate allegations that Crown Casino tampered with pokies.
The investigation has started after Independent MP Andrew Wilkie used federal parliamentary privilege to allege Crown tampered with machines in its Southbank gaming precinct.
The Tasmnanian MP raised allegations from former Crown employees that the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation had done nothing to stop what he described as "shocking criminal misconduct" and in some cases was "complicit in covering it up".
Ms Kairouz has instructed the regulator to do a full investigation into the claims.
And she believes the VCGLR will do its job
These are just allegations, no one's come forward and said exactly what the regulator has done," Ms Kairouz told reporters on Wednesday.
"If somebody out there knows or has any further information, we request they come forward immediately."
The VCGLR says it will conduct a complete investigation.
"We take any claims of this type extremely seriously and they will be thoroughly investigated," a spokeswoman said in a statement.
"The VCGLR maintains constant oversight of the Melbourne casino and has taken active steps over the past 12 months to improve our level of supervision of the casino.
"This includes establishing a specialist dedicated casino team. We undertake regular inspections and audits of the casino each year."
The commission has the job of reviewing Crown's licence every five years. And the sixth review since 1991 is now underway.
Nonetheless, there are now calls for the pokies to be shut down while the audit is now being carried out.
“Crown cannot be allowed to operate pokie machines until an independent audit has been completed,” Greens MP Colleen Hartland told reporters.
The Greens say they will write to the Victorian Ombudsman asking for an investigation into the VCGLR.
by Leon Gettler, October 19th 2017
