NSW casinos could cop $100 million fines with board members and executives held liable if operators are found to have committed “serious wrongdoing”.
The NSW government will hand the powers to the state’s newly minted casino watchdog if new legislation passes state parliament after it’s introduced next week.
It follows separate inquiries revealing damning evidence of the facilitation of money laundering at Sydney’s two casinos, Crown and 홈카지노주소 the Star, by gambling junkets linked to overseas criminal gangs.
The establishment of the NSW Independent Casino Commission was part of the state government’s response to the inquiry into Crown, headed by former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin.
Tough new conditions were placed on Crown so it could keep its doors open in Sydney after the Bergin inquiry found it was unfit to hold an operating license.
Hospitality Minister Kevin Anderson said the commission would also have powers to investigate and enforce compliance with regulations.
“The new regulator will be truly independent, and will be directly funded by the Casino Supervisory Levy paid by both casinos, with independent decision-making on licensing and disciplinary matters,” Mr Anderson said.
“The [commission] will have scope to deal appropriately with serious misconduct of the type uncovered by various recent inquiries.”
Other powers and changes include regular reviews of casino licenses, a phasing out of cash transactions of more than $1000 per day and the mandatory use of cards to gamble.
NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission will help guide the casino watchdog in regulatory efforts.
An inquiry into Star concluded in June with a final report expected later this month.