Crown Resorts has made a number of commitments to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority that could see the casino operator issued with a licence and the $2.2 billion casino at Barangaroo open as early as October.
One of the agreements is that the venue is a cashless operation where punters would instead be issued with a card which, the ILGA says, must be “linked to identity and a recognised financial institution”
Other commitments from Crown include plans to pay a portion of the costs towards the Bergin inquiry, a casino supervision levy, an agreement to cease ceasing all international junket partnerships, and phasing out indoor smoking.
Crown issued a statement on Thursday that it has closed its overseas offices: “As part of a restructure of its international VIP business Crown has closed its overseas offices and intends to operate its international VIP activities out of Australia.”
At a press conference on Thursday, ILGA chair Philip Crawford said an October opening is reliant on just how long it takes for the ILGA to complete its forensic audit of Crown’s bank accounts “to make sure organised crime has not infiltrated the bank accounts of the Crown group”.
“How long these audits will take I don't know, it could be, probably ambitious to say, the end of June but probably it'll go just into the third quarter of the year,” said Crawford.
“I’m not here today to tell you that they’re suitable, there is work to be done,” he said.
“Until we get sign-off that those accounts haven’t been infiltrated then that’s a key issue for us about suitability.”
He said the ILGA has extended the liquor licence until the end of October and it is hoped the gaming rooms will happen in advance of October’s end.
The ILGA is also expected to meet within the next fortnight to discuss two rival takeover bids by Star Entertainemtn and private equity firm Blackstone.
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