Crown Melbourne Gambler’s 34-Hour Binge Raises Concerns About Casino’s License

A visitor to Crown Melbourne engaged in wagering activities for 34 consecutive hours before being prompted to pause. This startling disclosure surfaced during a Victorian Royal Commission investigation into Crown Resorts. It stands as the most recent concern raising serious doubts about the company’s suitability to retain its license for the Southbank gaming establishment.

It appears Crown employs a system intended to identify players who utilize their rewards cards beyond 12, 15, and 17 hours. However, as Sonja Bauer, Crown’s own General Manager of Responsible Gaming, conceded, there is no method to monitor the duration of play for individuals who abstain from using these cards. Despite staff being tasked with observation, a gambler in 2019 managed to engage in continuous play for over 34 hours before any intervention occurred.

The issues don’t end there. The inquiry also revealed that individuals who gamble at Crown Melbourne exhibit a threefold greater likelihood of developing gambling-related problems compared to those who frequent other casinos within Victoria. Furthermore, consider this: between 2016 and 2019, Crown Melbourne received approximately 64,000 guests daily, yet employed a mere 12 individuals specifically dedicated to responsible gambling initiatives.

The system’s flaws and the risks it poses to individuals are evident. As Adrian Finanzio SC highlighted, “The system’s design permits some individuals to gamble for extended periods without interaction from staff.”