Crown Melbourne signs deal with Victoria parliament

However the deal has caused uproar among politicians there with parliament member Greg Barber saying the compensation clause in the deal was “absolutely extraordinary”, and showed that Crown was aware of its dependence on problem gamblers. “They’ve insured against measures that will actually reduce problem gambling,” he said. “Therefore, they must know that a significant amount of their profits come from gambling-related harm.”

He fears that other casinos in the state will now push for the same deal as Crown. Other parts of the deal for Crown included extending their operating license till 2050 along with increasing its gambling table numbers by 100.

In return the casino company will make more than $900m in payments to the government, including $250m within seven days of the bill becoming law.The Victorian treasurer, Michael O’Brien, has said the agreement would support ongoing investment and jobs for the state and provide significant financial benefits.

Prof Linda Hancock, a Deakin University gambling expert and researcher, agreed that the money the government would gain from the deal was small.Crown had enjoyed special treatment by the government for years, she said. “This legislation covers some of the most controversial areas of gambling reform where Victoria already lags behind many other countries in best practice,” Hancock said.

“The government has stuck an unconscionable deal and that’s the problem. They’re not acting in the best interest of the Victorian people and they are giving way too much compensation to Crown."