Australian casino operator Crown Resorts was fined $19.7 million for illegally accepting $990 million in unpaid bank checks from players at its Melbourne facility.
The Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission said the company made between $20 million and $50 million in additional profits over 20 years from the illegal practice, which first came to the attention of a national newspaper, The Age, in 2014.
Players were given casino chips by signing the back of unpaid checks that were written to the player, not the casino. The commission ruled that the practice amounted to giving players a line of credit they were not supposed to have and was a “serious violation” because it was not documented.
This is the second time the gambling commission has taken action against Crown over an undocumented practice. The casino operator said the practice has been stopped and steps have been taken to prevent it from happening again.
Last year, Crown Resorts was fined $53 million for taking $108 million in funds between 2012 and 2016 and $79 million last November for violating its responsible service obligations.
