Australia's Crown Resorts says Melbourne unit to retain licence

Australia’s Crown Resorts on Friday said a regulatory review concluded that it was suitable for its Melbourne unit to continue holding its licence to operate as being “in the public interest”.

The comments followed the release of a final report by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation on the casino operator and the licence of its unit, Crown Melbourn, which said it accepted the reports’ 20 recommendations on its operations.

The sixth review performed on Crown's licence found "failures of governance and risk management, contributing to compliance slippages".

The casino was also criticised for a "lack of innovation" in its approach to responsible gambling and told it needed a "new or refreshed" strategy.

"Such as might now be required of a world-leading operator to meet heightening community and regulatory expectations," the review from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) said.

The report, however, concluded that Crown remained suitable to hold the casino licence.

The VCGLR highlighted record fines for Crown Casino for breaching gaming laws, as previously reported by the ABC. In December 2017, the VCGLR fined Crown $150,000 for 13 instances of failing to comply with the state's junket regulations, including the recording of record individuals' identities and how much they spent.

The regulator fined Crown $35,000 after two minors were found gambling in the casino in January 2013.

Crown was reprimanded again for allowing children to enter the casino in December 2013, January 2014, and August 2014.

In 2017, 68 children were found unattended at the casino complex.

Victoria Police reported an average of 13 drug dealing offences per year in the casino during the five year review.

Police said weapons had also been found in the casino precinct, including in hotel rooms.