Eighteen employees of Australia’s Crown Resorts - including three Australians - have been arrested in China for organised gambling marketing.
The employees of the casino operator have been held for their sales and marketing activities which encourage Chinese nationals to travel to Australia to gamble. Under Chinese law, the organising, encouraging or introduction of Chinese citizens to gamble overseas is strictly forbidden.
Although the practice is widespread, it is usually conducted under the cover of encouraging Chinese citizens to visit the cities in Australia where casinos are located and helping them with visas. In this case, according to reports by news agency Fairfax Media, reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, the employees’ mobile telephones and computers have been seized by the authorities.
Among those arrested are Jason O’Connor, head of international VIP for Crown, says the newspaper. Shares in Crown Resorts immediately plunged 14 per cent in Australia when the news was revealed.
