Officials from China have formally apprehended three Crown Resorts workers from Australia.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade verified that the Chinese administration “has taken into custody three Australian Crown personnel concerning accusations of gaming violations.” Among the Australians held is Jason O’Connor, the Senior Executive of Global VIP at Crown Resorts Limited, whose job was to entice affluent Chinese nationals to wager at the company’s gaming establishments.

The staff members were originally apprehended on October 13th, providing Chinese authorities with 37 days to file official accusations. With that time limit expiring this weekend, a minimum of three of the detained Australians will now stay in confinement for an additional two months subsequent to their apprehension.

These detentions transpire amidst a suppression on unlawful acts by the Chinese administration under Premier Xi Jinping, ignited in part by anxieties that party administrators were utilizing government resources to gamble at foreign casinos.

While it is presently unlawful to directly advertise or endorse casinos within mainland China, Crown Resorts’ gaming venues in Australia draw a substantial quantity of Chinese visitors, which might have sparked worries with the Chinese administration regarding their compliance with Chinese promotional regulations.

The Australian Financial Review further indicated that an Australian gaming tour operator and up to 13 additional Crown Resorts personnel employed in China are also suspected to have been apprehended.

The concluding allegations levied against reporters from The Royal Gazette remain undisclosed, but are expected to be revealed upon the commencement of legal proceedings. Following additional inquiries, law enforcement will determine whether to pursue prosecution.