Gambler sues Crown Casino for us$ 30 million

Multi-millionaire Gold Coast property developer Harry Kakavas claims he lost the money playing baccarat at Crown in a 14 month gambling binge starting in June 2005.

Kakavas claims he had himself banned from the casino but was lured back by chief operating officer John Williams - the stepson of Crown developer Lloyd Williams. The property tycoon lodged a statement of claim in the Victorian Supreme Court last week for the us$ 30 million he says he lost, plus damages, News Limited reported yesterday.

The Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation (VCGR) has ordered the casino to hand over all documents relaying to Kakavas. Williams will be interviewed by the VCGR as part of the investigation and could be stripped of his licence to work in Australian casinos if found to be in breach of regulations.

Kakavas claims Crown contacted him in late 2004 and he was told to get a letter signed by a psychologist to say he was cured and they would let him back in. Before long he was betting up to us$ 300,000 a hand in private gaming suites and patronising Crown's VIP jet, he claims.

"They knew my gaming history," Kakavas said. "I excluded myself because I knew I had a problem. They should not have contacted me."