The Crown Perth Board (Burswood Limited) has announced two significant leadership appointments, subject to regulatory approval.

Ben Wyatt was appointed Director and Chair-Elect to the Board of Crown Perth, bringing a wealth of experience to the position and having previously held range of Ministerial portfolios during his 15 years in the West Australian State Parliament, including as Treasurer.

Current Chair John Van Der Wielen will remain on the board over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition.

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In addition to this, the Board has appointed Brian Pereira as Crown Perth CEO, pending regulatory approvals.

Mr Pereira joined Crown in 2023 as Chief Financial Officer having previously held the role of CFO at Perth Airport. He brings more than 30 years of financial and corporate strategic leadership experience in the tourism, entertainment, aviation and banking sectors, in both Australia and UK.

Mr John Borghetti, Chair of Crown Resorts, said: “Both of these appointees are highly regarded and are ideally positioned to lead Crown Perth. I would also like to thank John Van Der Wielen for his leadership and dedication to Crown over the last three years and deeply appreciate his decision to remain with Crown to ensure a smooth transition.”

Crown Resorts CEO David Tsai said: “I am confident that these two appointments, with their deep local knowledge of the WA tourism sector and economy, are the right people to lead the Perth team into the next exciting era of growth for the State’s only fully integrated entertainment resort.”

Crown Perth Board Chair John Van Der Wielen said: “My appointment as Crown Perth Chair in 2022 has been a great challenge, assisting the team in undertaking one of the most complex transformations in Australia. Appointing a new CEO and Chair-Elect brings to fruition much of the significant work undertaken in the last three years and I am very confident the business will prosper with so many new and exciting opportunities.”

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Chair-Elect Ben Wyatt said: “As Western Australia’s largest single site employer, Crown is a key part of the Western Australian economy, and I am excited to be joining a business that delivers some of Perth’s most exciting developments, entertainment offerings and tourism opportunities.”

Crown Perth CEO Brian Pereira said: “I couldn’t be prouder to have been appointed to lead the great team of more than 5000 people here at Perth’s ultimate entertainment destination. It is an enormous privilege to be appointed to this role, and I look forward being a part of a growing business that continues to create memorable guest experiences, supports the local economy and gives back to our community.”

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has imposed a fine of $1,014,120 on Betchoice Corporation Pty Ltd, trading as Unibet, for failing to close the accounts of 954 of its customers who had registered with BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER).

An ACMA investigation found more than 100,000 contraventions by Unibet of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (IGA rules) for not closing the accounts of 954 customers as soon as practicable after they had registered on the NSER.

The investigation found that 45 of these customer accounts remained open for 190 days or more, including many who had registered to self-exclude from online and telephone betting on the first day of the NSER. While none of these self-excluded customers were able to place bets during their self-exclusion period, the accounts should have been closed.

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The company also provided wagering services to 45 customers after they ceased to be registered with the NSER, using old accounts that should have been closed. The ACMA found evidence that these customers were able to place thousands of bets through these accounts after their NSER registration ended, including one customer who placed more than 1200 bets on their old account.

Under the IGA rules, once an individual registers with the NSER, wagering service providers must close that person’s account as soon as practicable, with additional contraventions for each day the account remains open. If the person’s self-exclusion ends and they choose to place bets again, they must be required to open a new account rather than being allowed to log into their old account.

ACMA member and gambling lead Carolyn Lidgerwood said this was a significant lapse in Unibet’s NSER compliance processes.

“Our investigation found very serious breaches by Unibet over a sustained period of time,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

“Taking in some cases 190 days to close accounts is clearly unacceptable and does not reflect the decisions made by Unibet customers to seek support to help them not gamble.

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“The NSER rules are also there to ensure that people are making a clear and deliberate choice to recommence gambling. That is not the case if they can simply access old accounts.

“We recognise that no bets were made from these Unibet accounts or marketing sent while customers were self-excluded. However, this outcome puts the industry on notice that they must comply with the rules or face potential financial penalties and other actions available to the ACMA under the IGA,” she said.

In addition to the first financial penalty imposed by the ACMA for breaches of NSER rules, the ACMA has accepted a 2-year court-enforceable undertaking from Unibet. The undertaking commits Unibet to a comprehensive independent review of its compliance systems and processes and the implementation of recommended improvements.

Unibet has also voluntarily undertaken to issue refunds to affected customers who were able to access accounts that should have been closed. The ACMA considers these important commitments from Unibet, directed at ensuring future compliance.

Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) has expressed serious concern over the Northern Territory Government’s decision to double the annual bookmaker and betting exchange tax cap on licensed online Wagering Service Providers (WSPs), warning that the move is economically reckless and risks undermining the Territory’s reputation as a stable and competitive licensing jurisdiction.

The doubling of the cap, announced in the Northern Territory Budget, comes without any industry consultation and, perplexingly, before the final report of the Northern Territory Government’s own Racing Industry Review – a review explicitly commissioned to inform long-term sustainability settings for the wagering and racing sectors.

Responsible Wagering Australia CEO Kai Cantwell said the decision had blindsided the industry and would put investment from WSPs – who are some of the NT’s biggest employers – at risk.

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“RWA have participated meaningfully in the review and eagerly anticipated a new strategic vision for racing in the Territory. This decision, made before the Review has had a chance to lay that strategic vision, has blindsided WSPs and materially undermines any outcome of the Review,” Mr Cantwell said.

“RWA members have proudly supported the Territory for years, investing in people, infrastructure, and long-term economic growth.

“We will continue to advocate for a licensing environment in the Northern Territory that upholds the highest standards of consumer protection while also incentivising business to invest in the local economy.

“RWA members are all licensed in the Northern Territory, directly employing around 600 Territorians in high-skilled roles across technology, customer service, and compliance – a figure that rises to over 1,000 when including all wagering service providers licensed in the Territory.”

In FY23 alone, the Australian licensed online wagering industry contributed more than $150 million to the Northern Territory economy, including:

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• $47.7 million in taxes and levies

• $2.5 million in product fees to the NT racing industry – directly supporting prize money, operations and promotional activities

• $46 million in wages paid to local staff

“The NT Government was elected on a platform of driving economic growth, delivering a competitive tax and investment environment and attracting private investment, with Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro stating the Territory is ‘open for business’ and passing legislation to ‘strengthen our ability to deliver economic growth and attract investment’ – yet this policy decision directly contradicts that commitment and risks undermining investor confidence in the Territory,” Mr Cantwell said.

RWA questioned the timing of the announcement, noting that it comes before the outcomes of the Government’s ongoing Racing Industry Review have been released.

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“This tax hike preempts the outcome of the Review, a process that was meant to guide long-term, evidence-based and sensible reform,” Mr Cantwell said.

“It sends a message that consultation, process and industry sustainability have taken a back seat to short-term revenue grabs.

“A financially sustainable and well-regulated racing and wagering industry is critical to ensuring its long-term viability and the significant economic and employment benefits it delivers to Territorians.

“Rather than imposing blunt tax increases, the Government should be working with industry to identify growth opportunities that will ensure the Territory’s continued leadership as a licensing jurisdiction.

“We are calling on the Treasurer and Chief Minister to reconsider this decision and to engage in genuine consultation with the industry before moving forward.”

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