The Royal Commission investigating the Perth Casino listened to claims that an Australian gambling regulatory body prioritized the monetary gains of Crown Perth over public welfare. This purportedly transpired when the regulatory body granted Crown’s petition to accelerate electronic gaming machines (EGMs).

Duncan Ord, the former head of the Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC), provided testimony that Crown Perth was experiencing a severe financial predicament when they approached the regulatory body in 2019. “Crown articulated that they were losing funds and there was a possibility of staff layoffs,” Mr. Ord stated. Although the GWC’s legal duty is to mitigate gambling-related harm, Mr. Ord conceded that the regulatory body did not pursue any expert opinions on the ramifications of the requested machine alterations.

Mr. Ord asserted that the casino operator desired to enhance the pace of play on their EGMs. Patricia Cahill, counsel aiding the commission, highlighted that this would make them more akin to pokies (a colloquial term for slot machines), which are prohibited in Western Australia due to their highly habit-forming characteristics. In essence, the adjustments would enable Crown Perth to generate greater revenue.

“Therefore, there was no consideration of competing interests whatsoever. You solely prioritized the financial advantages of Crown over the public interest, specifically the reduction of harm stemming from EGMs?” Ms. Cahill inquired. Mr. Ord affirmed that this was indeed the situation.

Mr. ODea suggested that the distinction between slot machines and poker machines was already unclear when Crown Perth asked the Gaming and Wagering Commission for authorization to accelerate the pace of their electronic gaming machines. He reiterated his backing of former Crown Perth head, Michael Connolly, despite worries about his objectivity stemming from personal connections with casino executives. O’Dea confirmed his faith in Connolly’s honesty and capacity to differentiate professional duties from personal ties, noting that he had observed substantial proof of Connolly’s dedication to his position.

Soon after O’Dea provided this first account, the Western Australian administration declared his departure.