Australian casino operator Crown Resorts is coming under fire as its CEO admitted his cluelessness regarding VIP gambling activity.

The New South Wales Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) inquiry into Crown’s suitability to hold a state gaming license heard from company CEO Ken Barton on Wednesday. Barton acknowledged that VIP gamblers steered to Crown casinos by junket operators were “certainly a higher risk than other customers” in terms of complying with anti-money laundering (AML) rules.

But Barton (pictured), who was Crown’s CFO before assuming the CEO reins in January, expressed ignorance of the fact that the Suncity junket was operating a “cash desk” and facilitating large cash transactions with high-rollers in its VIP gaming room at Crown Melbourne.  

Evidence of these transactions surfaced last October when local broadcaster Nine aired security camera footage showing individuals handing over ‘bricks’ of $50 and $100 bills to Suncity staff, bypassing the casino’s main cashier cage and the extra scrutiny that comes with more traditional deposits.