This week, Victorian politicians have taken a strong stance against the presence of bikies and organized crime figures at local casinos and race tracks. Over the past few years, hundreds of bikies have been excluded from Crown Melbourne and local authorities have decided that enough is enough.
Chief Commissioner Ken Lay has started a crackdown on individuals involved in organized crime and bikie gangs at casinos and other gambling venues. State Chief Commissioners have the power to exclude anyone from gambling venues who have a history of criminal activity, and Ken Lay is using his power to prevent gambling venues from becoming hotbeds of crime.
It is a well-known fact that criminals aim to target casinos to launder money and carry out other illegal activities. However, local politicians want to prevent local casinos from facing this association with crime. As such, the ban has been enacted to reduce and possibly prevent money laundering at casinos and racetracks across Victoria.
“The integrity of casino and racing activities is maintained, and public perception of confidence in these industries is strengthened,” reads a police report on the topic. Toby Mitchell is one individual who has been banned from Crown Melbourne. Although he has retired from Hells Angels, he is still associated with the bikie gang. As such, he and many of his associates have been banned from the casino.
Mick Gatto, a well-known organized crime figure, has also been banned. However, he has attempted to have his ban lifted since becoming a boxing promoter. Still, Victorian police have upheld the ban. More bans and exclusions are likely to be handed out in the near future.
Victorian police are serious about keeping crime out of casinos, so we will likely see fewer bikies and crime figures at Crown Melbourne and local rack tracks.
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