Evidence presented to the Perth Casino Royal Inquiry disclosed that Western Australia’s gaming authority prioritized Crown Perth’s monetary gains over societal welfare when it permitted the corporation to accelerate the pace of its digital gambling devices.
Past Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC) head Duncan Ord informed the inquiry that Crown Perth was experiencing economic difficulties when it approached the regulatory body in 2019. He stated that Crown emphasized their financial losses and the necessity of modifications to avert job cuts.
The GWC’s legal duty is to mitigate gambling-related harm to the populace. Nevertheless, Mr. Ord conceded that the authority did not pursue any specialized guidance on the consequences of permitting faster gaming machines, recognized for their highly addictive nature.
Legal counsel aiding the inquiry, Patricia Cahill, highlighted that boosting the speed of the machines would render them more akin to slot machines, prohibited in Western Australia, and enable Crown Perth to generate increased revenue.
Ms. Cahill inquired of Mr. Ord, “Therefore, there was no consideration of competing interests whatsoever. You solely favored the proposal based on the economic advantages for Crown as opposed to the public’s well-being, specifically the reduction of harm stemming from electronic gaming devices?” Mr. Ord affirmed this to be accurate.
Mr. ODea conceded that a “murky distinction” was already present between slot machines and poker machines when Crown Perth casino aimed to expedite the operation of the former.
Despite apprehensions voiced regarding the ethical implications of Crown Perth executives’ camaraderie with ex-casino head Michael Connolly, Mr. ODea reaffirmed his backing for Connolly.
“My belief, both then and now, is that Mr. Connolly possesses integrity and had the capacity to delineate his professional duties from his personal connections,” Mr. ODea stated.
“I observed substantial proof that he approached his role as Chief Casino Officer with utmost seriousness,” he elaborated.
The Western Australian government declared Mr. O’Dea’s departure from his position soon after his initial testimony.
admin