James Packer's Crown Resorts casino firm faces probe
An inquiry has begun into allegations that Australian casino
firm Crown Resorts has links to organised crime.
Crown Resorts is one of the country's biggest gaming groups,
and is 37%-owned by Australian tycoon James Packer.
It is defending several claims over the use of junkets
(paid-for trips) to encourage gamblers to use its casinos.
The New South Wales gaming authority is probing "the
vulnerability of junkets to the infiltration of organised crime" at the
hearings in Sydney.
It is also investigating "vulnerabilities of casinos to
money laundering both generally and in connection with the use of
junkets".
Mr Packer and Crown Resorts have denied the allegations and
said they will fully co-operate with the inquiry, which is expected to last two
weeks.
Junkets are commonly used by casinos to attract
high-spending gamblers.
The public inquiry was prompted by the publication in
various media outlets last year of allegations concerning the conduct of Crown
Resorts and its alleged associates.
"This included allegations that Crown Resorts casinos
were used to launder money, anti-money laundering controls were not rigorously
enforced, gambling laws were breached and Crown Resorts or its subsidiaries
were associated with junket operators that had links to drug traffickers, money
launderers, human traffickers and organised crime groups," hearing
documents state.
Mr Packer is the largest shareholder of Crown Resorts, which
owns casinos in Australia and London, although he stepped down from the board
in 2018. His wealth is valued at $3bn (£2.3bn) according to Forbes.
A spokesperson for Crown Resorts said: "Out of respect
for the ILGA inquiry and its processes, Crown does not intend to comment at
this time."
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