Crown Perth’s responsible gaming team had ‘zero’ input into decisions to buy the most ‘compelling’ electronic gambling machines, a royal commission has heard.
Monthly data highlighting the top spenders on Crown Perth’s electronic gaming machines was not passed on to the company’s responsible service of gaming (RSG) team, the West Australian royal commission has heard.
Gaming product manager James Sullivan took the stand on Monday, confirming the data only went to the gaming machine department, which assessed which games were most popular and therefore most profitable.
“Do you think it would be appropriate, that those (RSG) people be informed of which persons are spending the most amount of money in the casino so they can make sure that they’re not suffering from any form of gambling-related harm?” counsel assisting the commission David Leigh asked.
“I certainly wouldn’t see any issue with that process – I don’t have visibility as to what reporting (they) do receive, they may receive something similar – but certainly I accept your question that that data may well be of interest to them,” Mr Sullivan replied.
Mr Leigh suggested the types of games punters found most compelling and made Crown the most money were also those most likely to lead to customers playing at levels that may cause them gambling-related harm.
“I certainly accept there could be a connection there,” Mr Sullivan responded.
Mr Leigh asked Mr Sullivan if he consulted with the RSG team about the appropriateness of a game before buying it and was told no.
“In short, there is zero input into your purchasing decisions from an RSG perspective,” Mr Leigh asked.
Mr Sullivan said that was correct.
Gambling is restricted in WA, with Crown the only casino, pokie machines prohibited elsewhere and cruise ships only allowed to operate on-board gaming when they are more than 12 nautical miles off the coast.
The probe was sparked by damning findings from last year’s NSW inquiry into Crown, which uncovered evidence it had facilitated money laundering by Asian high-roller ‘junket’ tours at its Perth and Melbourne casinos.
A separate, now complete Victorian royal commission mainly focused on these matters, but the WA investigation is also delving into how the state regulator scrutinised the venue and how Crown’s RSG team worked.
It last week heard there was an “unfitting” and blokey relationship between the former WA Gaming and Wagering Commission chief casino officer and Crown’s legal officers, who went on regular fishing trips.
The final report is due in March.
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