Favoured treatment for Casino, bad news for patrons

Daily Telegraph, page 9, today

"Considering that Star City Casino is one of Labor's biggest donors,
providing almost half a million to the government over the last decade,
this latest legislation looks like a case of who pays the piper calls
the tune," Ms Rhiannon said

"The Coalition also backed this legislation.

"The Gaming Department admitted that the new laws were drafted at the
Casino's request.

"In 1998 a young man Peter Dalamangas died at Star City Casino as a
result of excessive force employed by Casino security officers. This law
shields the Casino and its staff from criminal liability if such an
unjustified use of force occurs again, if they acted in 'good faith' - a
term not defined in the bill.

"This new law will increase the risk that Casino staff act recklessly
when removing patrons subject to an exclusion order, knowing they are
immune from conviction.

"NSW Parliament's Legislative Review Committee was so concerned with
the implications of the new provisions that it wrote to the Minister
seeking a response. The explanation given doesn't really help - hotels
and clubs have this provision, so why not the Casino?

"The Casino is also shielded from being sued for a situation where
problem gamblers get into a Casino, burn up thousands and then seek to
sue, in a similar case brought by Melbourne high roller and problem
gambler Harry Kakavas against the Crown Casino.

"This will remove the impetus to properly monitor and enforce the
excluded persons program, a key protection for problem gamblers who
regularly attend the Casino.

"In recent years the Casino owners have won many prizes from the
government. Concessions include extending the length of its operating
license, reducing reviews of its operation, granting extra poker
machines and exemptions from liquor and smoking laws.

"The Minister for Gaming would be best to turn his mind to how to
tackle the complex challenge of problem gambling, rather than returning
favours to his government's generous donors in the Casino, clubs and
pubs industry," Ms Rhiannon said.

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