Australian casino operator Crown Resorts is swearing off all junket operators in an apparent Hail Mary bid to save its Sydney gaming license.

On Tuesday, Crown announced an update to its late-September decision to suspend all activity with junket operators – the middlemen who help steer (predominantly) Asian VIP gamblers to casinos – until June 30, 2021 in order for Crown to conduct “a comprehensive review of its processes related to junket operators.”  

Crown said Tuesday that it will “permanently cease dealing with all junket operators, subject to consultation with gaming regulators in Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales.” This consultation “has commenced” and Crown will only resume business with junkets if they were “licensed or otherwise approved or sanctioned by all gaming regulators in the states in which Crown operates.”

Crown’s newfound deference to regulatory authorities comes after a truly embarrassing month or so at the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) inquiry into Crown’s suitability to hold a gaming license for its Crown Sydney property, which is scheduled to soft-launch in December.