ILGA Allows Licenses for Liquor at Crown's Casino Australia

The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority of New South Wales (ILGA) has issued an interim resort liquor license at Crown's Barangaroo casino.

The license would allow Crown to sell alcohol at Crown Sydney Resort, which has a range of bar areas in it.

Philip Crawford, Chair of the ILGA has reported that the authority is seeking a further two liquor licenses for other non-gaming casino zones.

Crown is reportedly the target of several lawsuits at its Melbourne casino into its inability to fully enforce anti-money laundering measures linked to junket rooms.

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has opened an compliance inquiry into possible infringements of anti-money laundering regulations, although a related warning has been given by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation to Crowns claiming deficiencies in internal junket controls.

The interim license given has a 30 April 2021 expiry date and will allow ILGA to address any appropriate questions. ILGA will then make a further call as to whether to renew the license.

Last month, before the results of the inquiry were released, the authority decided not to authorize a number of regulatory items pertaining to the new casino's gaming activities.

However, ILGA partnered with Crown to open all non-gaming areas including pubs, hotels, housing and entertainment areas.