Australian casino operator Crown Resorts’ largest shareholder blamed lawyers and senior management for a series of cockups that threatens its ability to operate its new Sydney venue.  

Wednesday saw James Packer’s second day of testimony at the New South Wales Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) inquiry into Crown’s suitability to hold a state gaming license for its Crown Sydney property, which is scheduled to begin opening in December.

Packer’s first day testifying via video link from his yacht floating somewhere on the high seas saw him acknowledging ‘shameful’ behavior related to email threats he made to a private equity manager in 2015. Packer also revealed for the first time that he’s being treated for bipolar disorder.  

On Wednesday, Packer threw senior Crown execs under the bus regarding the 2016 arrests of 19 Crown staff based in China for violating that country’s rules on promoting gambling services to mainland residents. Packer claimed he’d asked then-CEO Rowen Craigie and chairman Robert Rankin to investigate potential dangers prior to the arrests but that the execs had “let the side down.”