Crown Melbourne Fined for Self-Exclusion Breach

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Australia’s Crown Melbourne has been fined AUS$100,000 (US$64,504) by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for allowing an excluded player to gamble for nearly 15 hours.

The breach occurred on October 31, 2024, when the player gambled for 14 hours and 40 minutes. They were not approached by a Crown PlaySafe attendant or any other employee during this period.

According to the VGCCC, the player had been excluded by Crown for welfare concerns in August of the same year.

It was acknowledged that the individual made efforts to conceal their identity. However, the VGCCC ruled measures at Crown Melbourne fell short and failed to flag the excluded person. The venue only became aware of the issue after being alerted by a VGCCC inspector.

Improvements made at Crown Melbourne

Following the investigation, Crown Melbourne made a series of changes to prevent similar incidents in the future. These included reconfiguring gaming floor entrances, reviewing the location of facial recognition cameras and continuous training for entry point officers.

VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan said the incident underscored the need for safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals.

“Exclusion is a critical harm minimisation tool. It enables a clear barrier between a player and the gambling environment especially during moments of vulnerability,’ Neilan said.

“This incident highlights the challenges of enforcing exclusions, but also the importance of continuous improvement and vigilance. Crown Melbourne must ensure that its procedures are constantly assessed so that the likelihood of an excluded person entering the casino is minimal.”