All my wife wants for her birthday each year is a trip to Crown Casino in Perth. Every year we drive from Mandurah to Burswood where we slowly transfer our money into Crown’s pockets using a process we’ve perfected over many years. Just feed a wad of $100 notes into a shiny-box with flashing lights and you’re done. Her future enjoyment of Crown Casino is currently at stake due to recent issues with casinos across Australia, with licenses to operate hanging in the balance, and to ensure my wife’s future happiness at least once a year; I need Crown to cleanup their act. That is why they should put me on the Board of Crown Casino Perth.
If I’m honest honest with you, I’m not a fan of gambling and apart from occasional bets on the Melbourne Cup I never gamble. Having said that, I did have a small roulette adventure during one of our visits and I will probably attempt to replicate that adventure during our annual visitations.
While my writing of this article is in a somewhat frivolous style, I am serious about joining the Board, even though I am not “Board material” in the traditional sense.
Crown Casino Perth may have been naughty
Crown, as well as other casinos across Australia have a problem right now. Allegations of money-laundering & links to organised crime have been levelled against them and that’s very naughty in my opinion. Bad behaviour deserves investigation and genuine consequences if shown they knowingly participated in such activities and was participation at a corporate level or a few rogue individuals.
The Western Australian Government called for a Royal Commission in order to investigate the allegations and report on its findings as well as make recommendations for improvements. The weird thing about commissions is that governments are not obligated to implement any recommendations made by a Royal Commission.
For readers not living in a British Commonwealth Country, a Royal Commission can be described as follows;
A Royal Commission is an investigation, independent of government, into a matter of great importance. Royal Commissions have broad powers to hold public hearings, call witnesses under oath and compel evidence. Royal Commissions make recommendations to government about what should change.
Description stolen from an Australian Government website
I don’t usually follow Royal Commissions and am happy listening to final recommendations on the evening news. The Crown Casino Royal Commission was different for me because I have a vested interest in seeing them be the best they can be because the casino is my wife’s happy place.
The Royal Commission into Crown Perth have since produced their Final Report and I must say it is a tough read. The very first question was a killer, blunt & right to the point.
“Is Crown Perth (Burswood Nominees Ltd) a suitable person to hold a license?” The answer was a resounding No.
Oops, that doesn’t sound good
Over the top & harsh recommendations; in my opinion
Casinos in Australia are highly regulated and are obliged to follow rules & regulations as legislated by State & Federal Governments. They are required to put in place processes & procedures which protect themselves, and more importantly their patrons. Evidence exists suggesting casino operators, or some employees, may not have bee playing entirely by the rules and herein lies the problem. Read the report if you want details about specific cases.
Various recommendations submitted by the Royal Commission, in my opinion, are heavy-handed and will likely restrict the casinos ability to do business. I do acknowledge that any wrongdoing by Crown Perth deserves consequences and the recommendations made, whilst appearing tough, may perhaps be very necessary. But how heavy-handed is too heavy?
For example; Slot machines, my wife’s favourites, and Electronic Game Machines (EGM) will require mandatory card play. Your personal details must be registered in exchange for a card prior to playing and during the registration process you’ll nominate an amount you can afford to lose, if not an arbitrary amount will be applied by the Gaming and Wagering Commission. Both my wife are already members and are not bothered by this process but I accept many people wont be overjoyed with this and may not play at all.
Given the recent Optus data breach (September 2022) one must ask the inevitable security question; can Crown repel hackers attempting to gain access to patrons’ details? Name, email, gambling habits, and likely more information about you will be there for the taking? Crown would be an attractive target for hackers!
One statement from the Royal Commissioner stated;
Measures recommended by the Royal Commission potentially expose individuals to risks they may not have ordinarily faced.
Quote from the Royal Commission: Final Report
Pearl Room access
Our Crown Membership, based on how much we spend, has given us access to other areas previously but not the Pearl Room. Getting in there has been my wife’s goal for a long time. Access would mean she can throw away more money even quicker. The stakes are higher within this mythical & magical room.
Pearl Room access, for us at least is out of the question.
Tighter restrictions should be placed on membership according to the Final Report. Access or membership will require documentary evidence (I assume tax returns, bank statements, deep pockets, etc.) demonstrating an individuals ability to comfortably lose larger wads of cash. Without documentary evidence access will be denied or existing membership cancelled.
Enough about the report findings
I wasn’t going to bang on about what the report says, suffice to say it goes on-and-on. With hundreds of pages of heavy duty & cerebral reading needing more brainpower than I am capable of providing. Having said that, I’ve read it twice and find myself confused and pondering how this all works into the future.
Truth be told, no matter how bad the report portrays Crown the Government aren’t likely to shut them down. Even if they found a freezer filled with bodies they would find a way to keep it open! There are simply too many employees, not to mention ancillary businesses relying on Crown. It is also worth mentioning the $50,000,000 per year on average Crown pay in taxes & fees to the West Australian Government.
Why join the Board when I have no Boardroom experience?
One must ask oneself “why would I, with no boardroom experience, throw myself into the lions den?” Clearly I wont fit in and will likely be surrounded by experienced Board Members, however; Crown has an image problem and I’m passionate about improving that image. Improving it for patrons, employees, the people of Western Australia and by extension my wife.
What may likely to let me down is my long hair & beard.
My eldest daughter claims I look like Gandalf without the mildly amusing hat. Personally I can’t see it!
I am prepared to cut my hair but the beard stays because my wife likes it, or so she claims.
I do own a few suits, though none fit properly anymore. In addition to appearance issues I am not a good speller, but thank goodness for modern spellcheckers and embarrassingly, I still mix up “to” and “too” but never “two”.
From a political standpoint I am a centrist and try to bring opposing views together through compromise & common ground when necessary. My wife tells me I’m intelligent and because she is right about most things I can only conclude “I’m reasonably intelligent”.
About Me
59 years old, married with three children and six grandchildren. I’ve been in the IT industry for 30 years and am an accomplished computer programmer with emphasis on networked applications & databases. I am honest to a fault and the first to admit my errors when I’ve screwed something up, and will take responsibility for my actions. I’ve high moral & ethical standards and at all times try to do the right thing by others. I am always loyal to my employer.
I consider myself an ideas kind of guy. Software applications I have written have all been the first to do whatever they did, otherwise I didn’t bother writing it; why reinvent the wheel so to speak.
I believe there is usually a better & more efficient way to do things and am constantly looking for improvements, not shortcuts but genuine improvements.
In addition to the above I’ve had experience in drafting, reading & analysing parliamentary legislation and consider myself logical & methodical.
I am also the guy who puts his hand up and asks the dumb questions when seeking clarity.
In the Royal Commission’s Final Report one of the recommendations was to ensure a “proper line of communication“. That statement sits well with me because I value well defined lines of communication and believe it’s important, not only to communicate processes & procedures but to explain why they are needed & consequences of not following directions. By “consequences” I don’t mean “you’ll get a slap on the wrist” but rather the consequences for the company or patrons if things aren’t done right. Rules, regulations, processes & procedures are there for a reason and it is important those involved understand those reasons.
The Report recommends an increase in Board numbers
The final report called for the number of board members to be increased, specifically non-executive positions.
I have effectively been retired for nearly eight years, as a result have plenty of time to dedicate to a role on the board and all that may encompass.
I don’t know if this is a paying role, full-time, part-time or any of the details. I’m not doing it for money and if there were a nominal payment I’d accept that also. The main point here is that my motivations are honourable and I’m not motivated by financial reward.
I do not know how to apply for such a role nor whom to contact but I’m gonna give it a go. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Contact me if you like, my email address is info [@] wozsites.com.au
Blackstone
Crown Resorts has been sold to Blackstone, an American private equity firm. It will be interesting to see how they handle new changes which are coming for all Casinos across the country. Hopefully they’ll think outside of the box and put someone like me on their Crown Board, someone looking to make a positive difference.
Crown Casino Perth
I promise this will be my last couple of paragraphs.
Interestingly, as I finish this article (Oct 6 2022), I’ve turned on the TV and a press conference is underway confirming the suspension of Star Casino’s license to operate. Star will continue to do business under the direction & leadership of an administrator – but I digress and want to finish this off.
Some may see the Casino as a den of evil, an emporium where misery & financial pain are a way of life for many punters. I see it differently, while also recognising there are people with problems whom gamble away rent money resulting in heartache & broken families. Problem gamblers need to be identified and helped as a matter of priority. Some of the measures proposed by the Royal Commission will help find them, and perhaps the casino may spearhead rehabilitation efforts. There are also the inevitable criminals laundering ill-gotten cash by converting it into legitimate money. These scumbags need to be found and action taken to stop them permanently.
The Final Report does have merit. It deserves serious postulation and I encourage you to read it, particularly if you frequent the casino from time to time.
Crown Casino can be a brilliant day out for many people offering many attractions for locals, interstate & international visitors alike. With top-notch live shows, excellent accommodations, brilliant restaurants and more. The staff, at least in our experience, have been awesome & professional. If you go there and don’t enjoy yourself then tick it off your bucket list and move on.
The Casino gets a bad wrap and people do lose money but on the flip side people win too. Above all there are folks enjoying the atmosphere and social aspects on offer without gambling. The casino can be a positive place and brings people together.
Update: I have created a site dedicated to roulette, take a look.