Crown Resorts Limited Initiates Independent CEO Probe

Australian casino operator Crown Resorts Limited has launched an investigation into allegations its Chief Executive Officer, Ciaran Carruthers, may have intervened so as to permit patrons to gamble even though they had been blocked by security.

This examination is being handled by an outside legal firm and will look into a pair of incidents in which Carruthers is said to have circumvented the authority of on-site security staff so as to allow barred punters to access the gaming floor of the company’s giant Crown Melbourne property.

Interested Instances

The first alleged incident is said to have happened on November 25 when Carruthers is claimed to have intervened in order to allow an intoxicated woman access the Victoria facility’s gaming floor. A second case involving the same venue is also supposed to have occurred last month and involved the experienced boss overruling security staff so as to reinstate the privileges of a punter then subject to a one-year ban for bringing a minor into a casino area.

Crown Resorts Limited is moreover responsible for the Crown Perth and Crown Sydney facilities in Australia while the probe was initiated by directors following the recent circulation of a petition from the company’s security staff. This appeal alleged Carruthers’ actions had undermined such workers and asked for support and an apology from the operator’s owner, New York-headquartered private equity management firm The Blackstone Group Incorporated.

Considerable Concern

Hired by Crown Resorts Limited some 15 months ago, Carruthers is a three-decade veteran of the casino industry and previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Wynn Casino facility in Macau. He is known for his hands-on habit of walking around gaming areas and has been leading efforts to ensure the Melbourne-headquartered operator maintains its state gambling licenses following the disastrous findings of separate reviews in 2021.

The Chief Legal and Compliance Officer for Crown Resorts Limited, Anthony Pearl, declared the casino operator remains ‘committed to supporting and encouraging our team members to speak up’ in addition to promoting behaviors and actions ‘that align with our code of conduct and company values’.

“It’s for this reason that, in accordance with our governance protocols, we have engaged external counsel to conduct an independent review of the matters raised within these reports,” Pearl said.

Outside Attention

Victoria established a special monitor to help ensure Crown Resorts Limited is living up to the many reforms recommended by its 2021 license review, which was led by former Federal Court Judge Ray Finkelstein. This overseer revealed it is alert to the ongoing examination while the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) watchdog asserted it is ‘actively investigating’ after being made aware of a minor being allowed onto the premises.

“The VGCCC will review the outcome of Crown Resorts Limited’s investigation before determining what, if any, further regulatory action may be taken,” read a statement from the VGCCC.