Losing Punters seek class action against Crown claiming to be ‘robbed’

Gamblers that lost money gambling at Crown Casino have joined the procession of victims that have emerged to have suffered as a result of money laundering that Crown Resorts (ASX: CWN) knowingly facilitated. 

Punters who lost while gambling at a Crown Resorts venue are invited by law firm Paddy & Partners to join a class action alleging they were misled to gamble, and ultimately lose. 

Details of the ambit claim expected to seek compensation in the billions range allege that the high frequency of gamblers conducting illegal money laundering activities gave a false representation of how many people were actually gambling at Crown venues. 

Solicitor Hugh Honey, who is leading the class action and one of the most adversely affected plaintiffs to be named in the suit, is firmly of the belief that if illegal activities not taken place, the only outcomes possible would be he either wouldn’t have gambled, or would have won. 

“When you see so many punters there on a Saturday night, you think everyone is happy because they’re playing fair games and happy to be winning,” said Honey. 

“But when they’re there just looking to turn over dirty money, they’re less concerned about winning and happy just to be getting something back, the optics change significantly.

“Looking back at it, I feel robbed because the place would have been empty otherwise which means I would have been certain to win.”

While Honey appears to have minimal support from his firm’s Partners, he joins the long list of angry parties that feel they have been misled by Crown’s money laundering activities where he is hoping his Gamblers class action can be tacked on to the shareholder class action against Crown Resorts.