China extends detention of Crown workers

China detained 18 workers on the Chinese mainland in October, and is chasing several for criminal charges, including the vice-president of international VIP operations, Jason O’Connor­.

The arrests sent a chill through the global gaming industry amid concerns that Chinese high-rollers would be more reluctant to gamble overseas.

Gambling is ­illegal in mainland China and ­casino companies are not allowed to directly market their gaming centres. Crown was reportedly warned in 2015 to stop luring ­Chinese high-rollers to gamble overseas.

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A spokeswoman for the ­Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that the government continued to help three Australian Crown workers who were detained in the country

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“Chinese authorities have ­advised that the investigation ­period has been extended by one month,” the spokeswoman said.

Mr Packer said resolving the Chinese problem was his top ­priority as he returned to the Crown board this month.

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Lawyers for Crown have previously advised that Chinese police would decide whether to prosecute the employees once the ­investigations were finalized

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In the wake of the detentions, Crown said last month it would reduce its stake in Macau casino operator Melco Crown and pulled out of a casino project in Las Vegas. The situation has injected­ deep uncertainty into several gambling companies operat­ing in China.

But Nomura analyst Harry Curtis upgraded Melco Crown shares yesterday after a stabilisation in VIP and premium customers attending casinos in Macau, and stronger gambling revenue in Manila, where the group runs its City Of Dreams Philippines resort.

The ASX-listed Crown shares plunged 20 per cent after the news of the arrests broke.

The stock has since gained about 11 per cent.