Crown Resorts is yet to make contact with its 18 employees detained in China, but says it is supporting their families during this difficult time.
China is reportedly preparing to charge the 18 Crown Resorts employees detained in that country with serious gaming offences.
"If you organise or introduce our country's citizens to go overseas to gamble, if it's more than 10 people, then you will face criminal liability," a source told Fairfax Media.
They could be charged with organising activities for mainland nationals overseas, Fairfax reported.
The Crown Resorts Board was updated on the situation by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Monday night, a Crown Resorts spokesperson said.
"The Board was also provided with an update on the arrangements which were being made to make contact with the detained employees, and to support their families during this difficult time," the spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The casino giant believes Australian Jason O'Connor, its VIP International executive vice-president, is among the 18 employees being held.
Investors fear the detention of the Crown employees may indicate the Chinese government is about to get tougher on gambling in Macau, where Crown operates three casinos under the joint venture Melco Crown Entertainment.
Crown said on Monday it hadn't been given any details about why its employees had been detained and had not been able to speak with them.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is awaiting official confirmation of the detentions, saying it's aware of reports some Crown employees, including three Australians, where picked up across China overnight on 13-14 October.
