Highlights
- Chinese community members are concerned the casino will continue to cause harm to gamblers, and the lives of people around them.
- Frontline social workers say they look forward to the next two years, the time Crown Melbourne has to reform or lose its licence.
- Nine of the 33 recommendations by the Commission were addressed by legislation immediately. But it didn't appear gambling harm recommendations were the priority, says a gambling researcher.
Members of the Chinese community and gambling counsellors have labelled the Royal Commission’s decision to let Crown Resorts retain its gambling licence for two years to protect “innocent third parties” and Victoria’s economy as “odd”.
The ruling came despite the inquiry finding the casino operator's conduct was “illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative”.
Due to a culture of silence within some cultural communities, experts feared that many stories from distinct voices did not surface during the Commission's proceedings.
Social workers say casinos construct their environment to be culturally appealing to Chinese and Asian migrants, such as using red and gold colour schemes that community members associated with luck while offering VIP services and free meals.
Alex Li, a member of the Australian-Chinese community, has parted ways with his problems with gambling.
His views on gambling, a popular pursuit in the community, come out as a strong reflection on his own experience.
While he believes allowing the casino to continue operating will “definitely harm the Chinese community,” Mr Li says Australia affords people and entities opportunities to reform themselves.
“If they’ve breached the law, the government should give them the opportunity for reform,” he tells SBS Chinese.
While Mr Li believes it would be ideal to not have casinos in Australia, now that they are operating, it’s difficult to suddenly shut them down.
Screenshot of former gambler Alex Li. Source: Tania Lee
“The government also protects the interest of Crown’s investors. But it should be the responsibility of the gambler to also realise the harm gambling has on them and their family,” he says.
Australian-Chinese community member Paul Fung is also a former gambler, who was once affected by gambling issues, and a health campaigner.
He finds the Royal Commission’s decision “disappointing but expected”.
“It is like a perpetrator has gotten away with a crime, i.e, somebody stole something off me or somebody hurt you in some way and gets a small sentence,” he tells SBS Chinese.
Former gambler Paul Fung. Source: Katherine O'Chee
Mr Fung also believes that a casino in Melbourne will continue to cause social harm, especially to the Chinese community, many of whom are drawn to Crown and gambling as a form of entertainment.
“It goes back to pretty much business as usual but with just a bit of tinkering. If I were to compare it, it would be like a restaurant whose food isn’t all that great and has hurt some people in some way and they’re just changing the menu a little bit to continue as they were.
“The fact that they are such a large business and organisation, having some impact is good but I just don’t think it’s enough,” says Mr Fung, adding that the Commission’s decision is nonetheless, a “small win”.
“There have been things that have been noted and recommended. Just the fact that is still going to be able to hold a licence is upsetting."
Grace He, a social worker for the Chinese community who on gambling harm, says she looks forward to “revolutionary changes” for Crown in the next two years - the time it has to reform itself or lose its licence - and hopes the reforms lead to a better life for Victorians.
“I think there is a lot of work to do,” she says.
Her colleague Ina Tang believes it is important the newly appointed special manager, gaming minister, regulators, anti-gambling advocates and health professionals will keep an open dialogue.
"I'm hoping for systemic changes," Ms Tang says.
Other frontline social workers such as Bear Lin from the Federation of Chinese Association says she looks forward to a review of the third party exclusion scheme that allows family members or friends of people experiencing gambling harm to apply for their loved ones’ exclusion from gambling venues.
Counsellors say not only are Chinese community members largely unaware of the existing scheme, but they also have trouble accessing it.
"We also expect more roundtable or panel discussions on prevention and intervention about gambling harms ... over the next two years," says Ms Lin.
A gambling researcher at Monash University, Charles Livingstone, has been following the Royal Commission’s proceedings closely.
Chinese gambling counsellors such as Ivy Wong previously criticised Crown's 'odd way' of minimising gambling harm. Source: Ivy Wong
He tells SBS Chinese that he is “a bit gobsmacked” at its findings.
“Essentially, the report found their behaviour was disgraceful, there’s no other word for it. They breached the law of this country and encouraged people to breach the law in other countries… It has essentially been rewarded with the continuation of its licence for the next two years.
“No one associated with the company has faced prosecution or faced any real penalty other than losing their jobs. In the case of executives and board members, there have been significant payouts.
"Millions of dollars in the case of some executives."
“What we’re seeing is, essentially, people being rewarded for the most appalling behaviour,” remarks Mr Livingstone.
Commissioner Ray Finkelstein QC. Source: AAP
He also highlights the “real issue here,” which is taking gambling harm seriously and seeing it as a priority.
“The government response hasn’t indicated that it is a priority, so they’ve introduced a Bill, which will address some of the key recommendations. But it doesn’t appear gambling harm recommendations are the priority for them.
“The recommendations themselves are very important. Should they proceed, it will set an important precedent for reducing harm in the community and it will be difficult to see how other gambling operators, particularly electronic gaming machine operators, could resist these types of interventions.
“It’s certainly, on that side, a step forward. On the other hand, of course, allowing Crown to continue operating after their appalling misconduct is something else but this is a step forward if it were actually introduced,” says Mr Livingstone as he tries to break down the new Bill in the state parliament vis-a-vis the Royal Commission’s recommendations.
“There is some hope that the company can be held to account in the future as it has not been held to account in the past,” he concludes.
Crown will retain its Melbourne casino license after the royal commission handed down its findings on Tuesday. Source: Tania Lee
As the final report of the Royal Commission was tabled in the Parliament of Victoria on Tuesday, the state government took immediate action to implement nine of its 33 recommendations.
It also appointed Stephen O’Bryan QC as a special manager to oversee the casino’s operations for the next two years.
“The special manager will have unprecedented powers to … direct the board to take particular action or refrain from taking action, and have unfettered access to the casino, its books and records,” said a spokesperson from the Victorian premier's office in a press statement.
In a media release issued on Tuesday, Crown stated it will now engage with the government of Victoria to understand the implications of the report for its remediation, compliance and culture change programmes.
“Crown accepts that serious shortcomings have been identified across operations, culture, governance and compliance," it read.
"Crown has publicly apologised for these shortcomings and has committed to a whole-of-business transformation to ensure it meets the justifiably high standards set by government, regulators, shareholders and the community."
Chinese Peer Connection program provides confidential telephone peer support to Chinese speaking individuals who are being negatively impacted by problem gambling. All telephone support is provided by trained, Chinese speaking volunteers who have personal experience with and have recovered from problem gambling. Call 1300 755 878.
The Federation of Chinese Association also offers a range of in-language support services for people affected by gambling. Call (03) 9650 1293 or email
provides a list of services for people affected by gambling. Free counselling, information and support line is available 24/7 on 1800 858 858. Contact the on 1800 856 800.
