The Crown Casino complex in Melbourne, Australia, was reportedly evacuated last week after staff smelt gas. Three fire trucks attended the emergency and the problem was traced to a leak in a refrigeration unit. The casino ventilation system cleared the air and everyone was allowed to return, just a small hiccup in the daily routine.

Likely to be more than a small hiccup is the apparently leaked report that Crown Casino staff made thousands of errors that affected patrons over the period 07/03 to 06/04. Figures released, supposedly confidential, were from the Crown’s surveillance report that logged 3800 errors by gaming staff as well as 6 scams and 75 incidents of cheating at the tables. Twice during the year the error concerned sums of over A$10,000.

A spokesman for the company was quoted as saying that with 7.5 million customers a year and multiple cash transactions then the number of errors was not disproportionate. Speaking about the figures for fights and cheating, the spokesman stated that the level of violence compared favourably with other Melbourne venues, and that scams and cheating were inevitable at casinos. Crown Casino removes an average 12 customers a day from its gaming areas, and over the period covered by the report 361 were ejected physically – almost one per day. It somehow conjures up the picture portrayed in films of the gunslinger gambling saloons of the Wild West, where men were repeatedly slung through the swing doors back onto the street, from where they dusted themselves off only to return. In those days it was always the men, in these days one can’t be so sure.

Some brighter news for the Crown Casino is that they are to keep the ‘TV Week’ Logie Award ceremony for another year. There was a possibility that the awards would be moved to Sydney but it has been announced that the venue will remain in Melbourne. Voting by TV Week readers for the categories ends February 14th and the awards will be made at the Crown Casino complex on May 1st. (E-01.31.05)

© Copyright 2005 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage