Crown's newly-minted compliance chief has told a royal commission that its corporate culture before his arrival was "as bad" as he had seen.
Steven Blackburn left the National Australia Bank to join Crown as chief compliance and financial crimes officer in March.
He told the inquiry into whether the James Packer-backed group can retain a licence for its Melbourne operations that Crown's culture was "really problematic" in the years before his arrival, but had improved now.
Commissioner Ray Finkelstein QC asked Mr Blackburn if it was "as bad" as he'd ever seen in his professional life.
Mr Blackburn said yes.
Commissioner Finkelstein then questioned the motivations behind the positive cultural change Mr Blackburn mentioned.
"This is an organisation that has three governments breathing down their neck," he said,
"This is not voluntary behaviour. They are being hounded by governments and regulators and they're fighting for their life. What choice do they have?"
Mr Blackburn responded: "Perhaps I'm being naive, but I'm very pleased with the genuine efforts I've seen."
Commissioner Finkelstein did not appear convinced.
"One person looking out over an organisation with 15,000 employees - that's not enough," he told Mr Blackburn.
The royal commission was set up by the Andrews' Labor government after a NSW inquiry found Crown unsuitable to operate its newly built casino in Sydney's Barangaroo.
It continues on Thursday with further evidence from Mr Blackburn.
