James McCann will take on the role of Crown Resorts CEO while remaining in his current capacity. He will be relocating from Sydney to Melbourne in adherence to Covid-19 restrictions. McCann’s appointment follows the departure of Xavier Walsh, who will continue working with the company until 9 December. Walsh’s exit coincided with an inquiry into Crown Melbourne’s operations, uncovering various breaches and issues.
The ongoing inquiry has revealed that Crown Resorts is not a suitable licensee for the state due to violations of anti-money laundering regulations and the circumvention of Chinese currency restrictions through a ‘voucher for chips’ system with VIP customers. Furthermore, Crown failed to fully pay its casino tax bill, further damaging its reputation and trustworthiness.
This inquiry in Melbourne follows the Bergin inquiry in New South Wales, which resulted in the resignation of former CEO Ken Barton. The Bergin inquiry found connections between Crown Resorts, money laundering, and criminal-affiliated junket operators, leading to Crown being deemed unsuitable for holding a casino license at Barangaroo in Sydney.
Last week, New South Wales implemented all recommendations from the Bergin inquiry, including the establishment of a new regulatory body. Crown Melbourne has faced temporary closures due to local lockdown measures imposed by the Victoria government.
