“We take any claims of this type extremely seriously and they will be thoroughly investigated,” a VCGLR spokesperson said in a statement. Wilkie, a long-time campaigner against illicit practices in the slot machine industry, known as poker machines in Australia, called on the government to open a parliamentary inquiry into the issue. “I think we can all understandably be concerned that they could indicate systemic issues in the broader poker machine industry right around the country, and in other venues in other states,” he told reporters. Shares in Crown, which operates casinos across Australia and the world, were down 7.4 percent at Aus$10.88 during mid-afternoon trading. A public inquiry in 2010 showed there were 115,000 “problem gamblers” in Australia whose habit can lead to serious health, family and financial issues.

Source: New Strait Times October 18, 2017 07:52 UTC