First published on Thu 11 Feb 2021 02.37 EST
The chief executive of Crown Resorts, Ken Barton, and a non-executive director of the casino group, Andrew Demetriou, have reportedly resigned following pressure from gambling regulators in New South Wales and Victoria.
A third director, Harold Mitchell, is believed to be planning to resign after the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) asked him to explain why he was suitable to remain on the board.
The Australian newspaper reported on Thursday night that Barton had offered his resignation and Demetriou had quit.
“I have always been a team player and supported the greater good,” Demetriou said in a statement according to the Australian. “I will therefore step down from the Crown Resorts board to give Crown the best possible chance of becoming suitable to the NSW regulator.”
Crown CEO Ken Barton bows to pressure and agrees to resign
ThuThursday 11
updated
ThuThursday 11
Crown s CEO Ken Barton will resign after pressure from gaming regulators.
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Crown chief executive Ken Barton appears likely to step down in the coming days after bowing to increasing pressure from gaming authorities, following a damning report into the Australian casino giant.
Key points:
Mr Barton is understood to have indicated he intends to resign shortly following a report highly critical of his role
Two Crown board members resigned on Wednesday amid pressure from gambling regulators
Mr Barton met on Thursday with Crown chair Helen Coonan when he offered his resignation, the ABC understands
Under-fire Crown Resorts CEO set to resign Crown Resorts CEO Ken Barton is understood to have agreed to resign following a meeting with chair Helen Coonan on Thursday.
Business by Damon Kitney, Lachlan Moffet Gray 11th Feb 2021 6:38 PM
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Subscriber only Under-fire Crown Resorts CEO Ken Barton is understood to have agreed to resign his role following a meeting with chair Helen Coonan on Thursday, amid criticism from the NSW and Victorian gaming regulators over his suitability in light of findings against him in the Bergin report on the James Packer-backed company. But The Australian understands that similarly embattled Crown director Andrew Demetriou is clinging on to his position, despite his suitability also being called into question by the regulators and the Bergin report.
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The federal Labor Party will consider banning donations from Crown in light of a NSW report that found the company enabled money-laundering by criminals at its Melbourne casino.
The company, which runs casinos in Melbourne and Perth, donated $1.78 million to federal political candidates in the past 10 years, with $550,000 of that money going to candidates from Victorian political parties since 2010 and $875,000 to candidates from WA.
A NSW judicial found there was âno doubtâ money laundering had occurred at Crownâs Melbourne casino.
Credit:Scott McNaughton
Crown was the 13th largest donor to federal politicians in the previous financial year, with an outlay of $184,000.