Crown Resorts has faced a string of lawsuits and investigations in the recent past over numerous allegations concerning tax evasion, non-compliance of gaming regulations and partnering with junket operators who have ties to Asian triads. 

Crown Will Defend Itself Against Discrimination Lawsuit 

Crown is now facing a discrimination lawsuit filed by a lesbian couple in December 2023. The lawsuit also targets the State of Victoria and G4S security along with Crown Resorts.

Sharon Cosgrove filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Victoria stating that on July 2019, she and her partner were arrested at Crown Melbourne for kissing and touching each other in the casino. Cosgrove alleges that the two of them were arrested with unnecessary force by G4S security, thrown in jail and berated by the bail sergeant. 

Cosgrove alleges that if the same behaviour took place between a man and a woman at Crown Melbourne it would have been overlooked. Cosgrove said that in jail a door was slammed on her foot resulting in an injured shoulder, fractured foot and 14 stitches. She is suing all Crown and the State of Victoria for assault, battery, false imprisonment and unlawful arrest.

Crown Resorts have confirmed that they will fight the case.

The casino market in Asia finally showed signs of recovering in early 2023 after taking a massive blow during the COVID-19 pandemic. Top gaming markets in Macau, Singapore, Philippines and South Korea saw their gross gaming revenues recover and bounce back strong as the year progressed.

Macau Back To Being Biggest Gaming Market

Macau was considered the biggest gambling market in the world in terms of gross gaming revenue but lost that place due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that China cracked down on its VIP and junket casino operators.

Macau’s casinos have managed to get over those setbacks and have once again taken the number one position as the biggest gaming market in the world in 2023. Macau’s casinos have focused on the mass market gaming sector and the six gaming operators committed in 2023 to focus on international markets and boost their non-gaming offerings.

Japan and Thailand Moving Forward with Legislation 

Japan is touted to become one of the most attractive gaming markets in Asia but things are moving very slowly. Japan has approved Osaka to host an integrated resort and MGM Osaka is likely to open its doors to the public in 2030. Nagasaki who applied for an IR permit did not get approval and was turned down in December.

Thailand has continued to make moves to legalize casinos and legislators will take up the cause once again in 2024.

The New South Wales (NSW) government has allowed more gaming firms to participate in the cashless gaming trial. Four Australian B2B gaming suppliers will take part in the next round of trials which will cover a total of 4,500 electronic gaming machines throughout the state.

Expanded Trial to Include 28 Locations

Aristocrat Leisure, Light & Wonder, eBet, and International Game Technology will all get involved in the next set of trials which is expected to commence in early 2024. The expanded test will be conducted on 4,500 pokie machines across 28 locations (20 clubs and eight hotels) in NSW. 

The four firms are all members of the Gaming Technologies Association (GTA), the peak representative body for gaming machine technology suppliers in Australia.

GTA CEO Jinesh Patel said they are committed to working with the government and helping with efforts to ensure a fair and balanced path for gaming technology in Australia. According to the trade body, the trial will take into account key factors, such as infrastructure and technology costs concerning stringent cybersecurity requirements and the impacts on hotel and club employees.

Clubs Showing Strong Interest in Participating in the Trial

The cashless gaming trial is overseen by a panel of 16 industry representatives led by former NSW Liquor, Gaming, and Racing Commissioner Michael Foggo.

Foggo said they’ve seen a “large number” of applications for the trial, indicating that the industry is “serious” about reducing gambling harm and money laundering linked to electronic gaming machines.

The Macau government has changed its stance on the issue of gaming promoters, otherwise known as “junkets” granting credit to gamblers. It now wants the practice banned under proposed changes to a Bill on casino concessionaire- and junket-issued credit for gambling.

Junkets to be Banned from Issuing Credit to Gamblers 

In the original Bill, only casino concessionaires and licensed junkets would be allowed to issue credit, with junkets required to secure a formal contract for that purpose with their casino partner. The legislation is currently under review by a standing committee of the Macau Legislative Assembly after passing the legislature’s first reading in May this year.

The head of the committee, Chan Chak Mo, told the media following a recent closed-door meeting of the committee that the government is now proposing to prohibit junkets from loaning money for gambling purposes. 

New Rules Could Take Effect in Mid-2024

Under new changes to the draft Bill, only casino concessionaires would be permitted to issue credit to gamblers. However, Mr. Chan made it clear that junket operators would still be allowed to assist in bringing customers to casinos and earn commission for their services. 

Committee deliberations on the proposals will extend to February 2024, with the Bill expected to take effect four months after being approved into law.

Amid the ongoing debate on the proposed gambling tax increase in Sweden, the country’s gambling regulator Spelinspektionenis staying neutral on the matter. However, the agency noted that the tax hike could have an impact on the regulated market’s channelization rate.

Under the new changes, Sweden’s gambling tax rate will be set at 22% of gross gambling revenue (GGR), up from the existing 18%. Proponents say the tax increase is appropriate as the gambling market has already “stabilized” since its re-regulation in 2019. 

With the new measure, the government is aiming to raise an additional SEK540 million (€45 million) in tax revenue. The proposal will be up for deliberation at the Swedish parliament, Riksdag, in the Spring of 2024. If approved, the tax increase will be implemented on July 1 next year.

Spelinspektionen Submits Feedback to Proposed Tax Hike

While maintaining that it holds “no significant opinion” on the proposed tax changes, Spelinspektionen highlighted the recent decline in GGR among licensed operators who are paying gambling tax. Latest figures from the regulator show that Swedish gambling providers (both land-based and online) experienced a 1% drop in revenue to SEK6.7 billion, which could indicate a shrinking tax base.

Submitting its response to the proposed tax hike, Spelinspektionen also stated that the measure could present a challenge to the government’s goal of maintaining a 90% channelization rate for the regulated market.