Crown Casino Penalized $20 Million for Tax Violations

The Crown Casino has been penalized a hefty $20 million Australian dollars for violating Victoria’s tax regulations.

The Australian land-based gambling establishment operator, Crown Resorts, has been instructed to pay a $20 million Australian dollar penalty (equal to £10.8 million/$12.6 million/€13.8 million) for breaching Victoria’s tax laws.

This financial sanction is a consequence of findings from an investigation released by the Casino Operator and Liquor Licensing Royal Commission (RCCOL) in 2021.

Based on the RCCOL’s findings, Crown improperly claimed tax deductions by incorporating the expenses of certain promotional activities into the amount disbursed as prizes. The operator manages the Crown Melbourne casino in Victoria.

The inquiry also uncovered that the operator deliberately concealed the nature of these deductions from the state regulatory body between 2013 and 2021.

The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation served as the regulatory authority for a portion of this period. It was subsequently replaced by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).

The VGCCC stated that the true nature of the deductions was only revealed when the RCCOL noticed a document detailing the amount of unpaid casino tax. This document was one among many that Crown had disclosed to the royal commission for other purposes.

Crown acknowledged that its practice of claiming tax deductions was incorrect after the royal commission exposed its actions. Crown has since reimbursed approximately $61 million.

The Crown Casino is indebted to the Victorian administration for a sum of A$50 million. This includes A$37.4 million in unpaid casino levies and A$24.1 million in interest charges.

Nevertheless, due to the nature of the infringements, the Victorian Gambling and Liquor Control Commission (VGCCC) has also decided to levy an extra A$20 million penalty on the operator.

The Commission’s leader, Fran Thorn, stated that Crown and other gambling permit holders have a responsibility to pay gambling taxes to the state government. He accused Crown of not only breaking its commitments by claiming tax deductions it was not entitled to, but also making considerable efforts to hide them.

Thorn emphasized that the VGCCC will not tolerate such conduct and expects licensees to fulfill their tax responsibilities and be transparent in their dealings with the regulatory body.

“We are imposing a substantial A$20 million penalty on Crown today to deliver a clear message that this kind of behavior will be met with severe disciplinary action,” Thorn stated.

He added that the fine also sends a crucial message to other gambling operators about the significance of fulfilling their gambling tax responsibilities and the need to interact with the regulator honestly and openly.

In response, Crown Melbourne’s chief executive, Mike Walcott, said he accepted the VGCCC and the Royal Commission’s decisions and findings.

These violations, choices, and actions have no place in the Crown. Under new ownership and direction, we are dedicated to establishing an open, productive, and transparent relationship with regulatory bodies and interested parties, and enhancing internal controls and regulatory reporting requirements, stated Volkhart.

Our future Crown plan is driving change throughout the company, and we are focused on building a Crown that surpasses the expectations of stakeholders and communities.

This practice ceased in 2021, and Crown has since paid the necessary sums to meet its casino tax responsibilities.

Disciplinary action

This is the fourth time the Victorian Gambling and Liquor Commission has utilized its stronger enforcement powers to discipline Crown for the behavior discovered by the Royal Commission. Since acquiring these powers, the Victorian Gambling and Liquor Commission has penalized Crown a total of $250 million.

Last year, the Victorian Gambling and Liquor Commission levied a record $120 million fine on the company for a series of shortcomings in the state. The Victorian Gambling and Liquor Commission stated that Crown had failed to meet its responsible gambling obligations for years, neglecting to take steps to prevent gambling harm.

Also last year, the Victorian Gambling and Liquor Commission fined Crown $80 million for its China UnionPay payment procedures. The Victorian Gambling and Liquor Commission’s investigation revealed that between 2012 and 2016, Crown Melbourne unlawfully allowed customers to use UnionPay credit or debit cards to obtain funds for gambling.

In the previous month, Crown Melbourne and Perth gambling establishments came to a resolution with Australia’s financial organization dedicated to combating organized crime. This agreement involves a substantial payment of $450 million to resolve violations of anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

This settlement concludes a comprehensive, year-long regulatory examination of the company, stemming from past shortcomings in AML compliance.

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