Crown Casino in Melbourne has been fined $1 million over its junket operations. 

The casino was fined this week for failing to vet foreign high rollers and scrutinise junket operators, which led to favourable treatment for organised crime figures.

Junket operators work for casinos to bring high rollers from mainland Asia to Australia to gamble.

The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) said Crown had failed to comply with its regulatory obligations, and must now implement a “robust process” to consider the ongoing probity of the operators.

The commission said Crown had not gathered the necessary information to make an “informed decision” about the people behind the junkets, nor did it check or verify the relevant information with those involved.

Crown was also found to have failed to maintain the necessary records relating to junkets.

“This failure meant it was unclear how certain decisions were reached by Crown and whether such decisions were made with due regard to Crown's regulatory obligations,” the commission said.

The $1 million fine is the maximum available under the Casino Control Act, and VCGLR chair Ross Kennedy says it reflects the seriousness of the matter.

“And the fact that Crown's failure to implement a robust process occurred over an extended period,” he said.

“Robust processes must be implemented to ensure that Crown's Melbourne casino remains free from criminal influence and exploitation.”

The commission also issued a letter of censure to Crown, prohibiting it from recommencing junket operations.

The fine has been described as “loose change” for the multi-billion-dollar organisation. 

Crown's suitability to run the Melbourne casino is being tested at a royal commission due to report back by August 1 this year.

The royal commission was launched after a NSW inquiry found the gambling giant was not suitable to hold a casino licence in Sydney.