Crown Perth keeps casino licence with no penalties
Crown Perth has avoided penalties and will keep its casino licence, three years after a Royal Commission found it unfit to operate in Western Australia.
The state government confirmed the decision this week, giving the green light for Crown to continue running WA’s only casino without conditions. Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said he was satisfied with Crown's progress following the royal commission’s findings.
"I have found on advice from the Gaming and Wagering Commission, that Crown Perth is a suitable entity for operating a casino without any conditions or penalties," Papalia said.
The 2022 inquiry revealed Crown’s involvement in money laundering, criminal junkets, and its failure to protect vulnerable gamblers. Although it stopped short of recommending the casino be stripped of its licence, it triggered sweeping reforms overseen by an independent monitor. The monitor’s final report was delivered in January.
Of the 59 recommendations in the commission’s 1,000-page report, 32 have been implemented. Eighteen remain in progress, while nine are pending legislative changes.
Papalia, who had the power to revoke the licence or impose fines up to A$100 million, defended his decision not to pursue further action.
"To say that there's not been any impost on them is not correct," he said. "They have comprehensively changed their practices... to ensure that they are complying with the recommendations."
The Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC), itself criticised by the inquiry, has since bolstered its investigative capacity. Chair Gary Dreibergs said Crown still has work to do.
"True and embedded cultural change for any organisation like Crown Perth takes longer than two-and-a-half years," he said.
Crown’s transformation has been largely attributed to new ownership under Blackstone, which took over in 2022 for A$8.9 billion.
"They took on Crown knowing the issue and we knew how much it would take to fix and I think we're there," said Crown Perth chair John Van Der Wielen. "I'm very confident now... we have the right moral compass in place."
Jonathan Jackson, 15th July 2025
