Packer taunts Dan Andrews and NSW regulator for burning down casinos
In a wide-ranging interview, billionaire James Packer criticized former Victorian premier Dan Andrews and took aim at gambling regulators in Australia who are trying to bankrupt the local casino industry.
The former casino boss made harsh criticisms of Andrews in an interview with his friend Joe Aston, published by the latter’s media website. TireHe said the former prime minister blindsided the Crown with a new tax in 2022 that would cost the business tens of millions of dollars.
“I couldn’t think more vile of Daniel Andrews, I think he’s human scum… I hope he sues me,” Packer says in his interview with Aston.
James Packer has criticized regulation of Australia’s casino industry and former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews. Credit: Seven News
He said the additional tax burden may have derailed Crown’s $8.9 billion sale to Blackstone, which ultimately gave Packer a lucrative exit from the casino industry. Packer was the principal owner of Crown, which operated casinos in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
“Daniel Andrews is my least favorite person in the world. I think Daniel Andrews not only ruined Victoria. He pretty much ruined my life,” Packer said. Andrews has been contacted for comment.
He has a similar level of disdain for some regulators who were instrumental in stripping the casino licenses of both Crown and Sydney rival Star Entertainment, saying they should have looked at Star much earlier.
“It’s one of life’s miracles that Philip Crawford got a job,” Packer said of the chief regulator of the NSW Independent Casino Commission.
Following the investigations, a series of investigations were launched Age And Sydney Morning HeraldI found both Crown and Star are guilty of multiple money laundering failures and alleged ties to criminal groups. This also led to stricter regulations on gaming and poker machines in particular, affecting both Crown and Star’s revenue.
“Star was behaving much worse than the Crown had ever acted, and this was proven by the fact that: [the Australian Securities and Investments Commission] No charges were ever brought against Crown’s board of directors.
