Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAPAN MAY 2021 42 O n 22 February 2021, the appointment and terms of reference of the Finkelstein Royal Commission intoCrownMelbourne were gazetted in Victoria. This followed on from the Bergin inquiry conducted in New South Wales, which had reported some three weeks earlier, among other things, that Crown Sydney was not a suitable person to give effect to the Barangaroo restricted gaming license, and that its parent, Crown Resorts, was not a suitable person to be a close associate of the company holding that gaming license. Much of the conduct identified by Bergin as inimical to suitability related to the Melbourne casino, operated by another subsidiary of Crown Resorts, Crown Melbourne. A key distinction between the two inquiries lies in the fact that Patricia Bergin was appointed by the New SouthWales gaming regulator, the Independent Liquor and Gambling Authority, whereas Ray Finkelstein has been appointed by the Victorian Governor-in-Council. Commissioner Finkelsteinwill report to theParliament of Victoria, which is responsible for the articulation of public policy and the development and passing of the legislative framework which gives effect to it. The Victorian casino regulator, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, has effectively been sidelined. Indeed, Commissioner Finkelstein is required to consider whether changes should be made to the legislative framework administered by the VCGLR as a consequence of the Commission’s findings or recommendations. Since much of the heavy lifting associated with identifying, investigating and characterizing matters going to the suitability of Crown’s respective licensed COLUMNISTS