Former Crown Chief Slams Regulators for Harsher Scrutiny on Crown

James Packer, who used to run Crown Resorts, has sparked new talks about gambling rules in Australia. In a chat with business news outlet Rampart, he took aim at political bosses and watchdog groups. 

Former Crown Boss Says Regulatory Imbalance Has Undermined Casinos and Favored Smaller Venues

Speaking from his yacht near Fiji, Packer said that changing rules, uneven checks, and sudden tax hikes had shaken up the country’s casino business. He thinks this has given pubs and clubs an edge.

Packer said state regulators had treated the two biggest casino groups differently, arguing that Crown faced tougher scrutiny than its competitor, Star Entertainment. He mentioned the series of investigations starting in 2019, noting these probes led to leadership changes among regulators in Victoria and Western Australia, while New South Wales officials kept their jobs. Packer expressed confusion about NSW Independent Casino Commission head Philip Crawford staying in his role, claiming Star’s problems were clear under Crawford’s leadership. He acknowledged Crown’s errors were real but insisted the regulatory consequences did not match how officials had dealt with Star.

The ex-billionaire investor saved his harshest words for former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews. Packer said Andrews’ government had reversed a tax deal made in 2015, a change that he said took away tens of millions in profits from Crown Melbourne just before he closed the AUD 8.9 billion ($5.7 billion) sale of Crown to Blackstone in 2022. He claimed that the sudden change put the already-shaky buyout at risk and made him feel like a target, adding that years of probes had forced him to give up his share to meet fitness standards.

Packer Reflects on Regulation Burden, Personal Challenges and the Blackstone Exit

Packer also thought about how the new rules set up in many states after those investigations affected the industry even more. He claimed that steps like having to show ID, strict time limits, and no cash allowed put casinos at a business disadvantage. He pointed out that bars and clubs could still take cash, while casinos could not. He described this difference as a situation where local hangouts did well, but big resorts had a hard time because of all the rules they had to follow.

Despite the anger woven through his comments, Packer admitted he ended up gaining from the Blackstone deal, calling it one of the smarter moves in his career. He said he now saw himself as an average businessman who had sometimes managed to leave at the right time, pointing to earlier sales in media and Macau partnerships as examples. He also talked about long-term mental health issues that got worse during Crown’s legal problems, saying ongoing treatment and two years without drinking had improved his situation.

Packer has stayed out of the industry since 2022, but his words have brought back questions about how Australia’s gambling scene has changed and who has paid the price for that change.