Allegations that tie Crown Casino to organized crime, money laundering, and human trafficking have been investigated in a television documentary produced by an Australian TV company and two newspapers.
Thousands of documents ostensibly leaked from the company owning casinos in the cities of Melbourne and Perth form the basis of the film’s investigation. A follow-up documentary is planned about the company’s alleged shenanigans in Sydney.
The film alleges shocking links between Crown and organized crime, claiming the company turned a “blind eye” to money laundering, as well as exploiting loopholes in Australia’s immigration processes. The film investigates allegations that the firm flew wealthy Chinese gamblers into the country without having them undergo the requisite checks. It is also claimed that Crown Casino had business ties to an Australian brothel, which is suspected to be involved in human trafficking.
Independent MP, Andrew Wilkie, said “I now know of three police officers — two currently serving — who have openly said to my staff that in Victoria, Crown is regarded as the Vatican, an independent sovereign state all to its own where the laws of Victoria, the laws of the Commonwealth (of Australia) do not apply”
These allegations have seen the state of Victoria order it’s gambling office to look into these claims against the casino giant “as a matter of priority.” Demands by experts in Australia that anti-money laundering regulator AUSTRAC examines claims that money has been passed through Crown Casino by criminals have also been made.
In a series of newspaper advertisements, the company has vehemently denied the allegations, saying it wanted to set the “record straight in the face of a deceitful campaign against Crown.” Crown, in turn, has leveled its own accusations at the filmmakers of the TV documentary, claiming that the film has unfairly attempted to damage its reputation. The company stated that takes its regulatory obligations extremely seriously.
