The independent MP Andrew Wilkie has tabled a series of allegations against Crown casino in parliament. Crown has rejected the allegations and called on Wilkie to provide any information he has to the relevant authorities. Here are the allegations in full:
-
“RAM-setting” – Whistleblowers allege Crown ordered techs to reset the machines more often than required. This would interrupt the algorithm so that payouts would fall below the required 85-94% payout rate.
-
Weekend odds – Whistleblowers allege banks of pokies in prominent positions were adjusted to pay out the minimum 85% on weekends when customers tend to spend less time at the machines, and then reset on weekdays to better odds when more committed gamblers were playing.
- Automatic betting – Despite state law prohibiting the practice, whistleblowers claim they were ordered to modify buttons to allow a pick to be inserted so no button pressing was required. The picks were provided by the casino, they allege.
- Illegal minimum payouts – Whistleblowers allege that changes were made to electronics in machines so some paid out up to 20% less than the minimum payout.
- Changes to betting options – Whistleblowers allege they were asked to modify machines so that buttons allowing mid-level betting options (two or three rows) no longer worked. Gamblers had a choice only of single row bets or the highest bet.
- Getting round Play Safe betting limits – Whistleblowers allege they were instructed to either reset machines in the VIP rooms or use their own tickets to place a bet, so that betting totals were erased for players who had bet as much as $20,000 on machines in the VIP room. Technicians say they refused and managers used their own tickets.
- Moving machines – popular machines were moved to more hidden locations so patrons passed other machines in search of their favourites.
