Season's Greetings punters, casino and gambling millionaires, billionaires, entertainment news junkies, insiders, outsiders, politicians, journalists and everyone else. It may be the season to be jolly, but at least one South Australian casino boss appears to have gone too far, with revelations coming out he fondled many of his colleagues at a staff Christmas Party.Media Man and Gambling911 putting the toe in mistletoe, with this camel-free report...Ho Ho Ho!...
An Adelaide Casino boss is no longer gainfully employed, getting the "don't come Monday", after being accused of sexually assaulting his workers, including fondling of boobs and tits, and the crotch region no less!
The man... let's call him Mr Grinch, has been accused of sexually assaulting up to half a dozen female staff members otherwise enjoying a work Xmas party at the casino - that started to turn X, in an unwelcome and unwelcome fashion.
It is alleged the casino boss in question got horny and approached the females in a manner not invited or welcome. The actions included fondling breasts, kissing, placing his fingers between buttocks, and would you believe in one instance he had the nerve to lift up a dress, snatching at her vagina - towards several women at the private Xmas event.
The numerous complaints were communicated to casino management after the end-of-year get together at popular West Tce nightclub HQ on the 13th December (unlucky for some).
It is understood some of the incidents occurred in the presence of the women's partners who were also invited to come along to the event. The casino would not confirm whether the boss had been sacked or had voluntarily resigned from his position at the North Tce gambling den, but it is believed he had earlier been suspended over the matter.
"Adelaide Casino has been made aware of an alleged issue relating to a staff member and has undertaken due process to resolve it," a statement, released by the casino through Norwood PR firm communikate et al, said.
"The staff member involved in the alleged incident is no longer an employee of Adelaide Casino or the Skycity Entertainment Group."
Casino staff were last week "gagged" from providing information about sexual incidents.
Effectively a media ban is in place, as far as staff talking to newspapers or online media outlets, or any other media from what we can pick up.
The casino powers that be advised it had moved quickly to resolve the complaints but would not comment on whether counselling had been offered to the alleged victims, due to issues of privacy.
"We take any matter regarding our staff very seriously and it is our priority to ensure the issue is resolved quickly and with sensitivity to those concerned. In the interests of privacy to the individuals involved, Adelaide Casino does not feel it is appropriate to comment further at this point."
Skycity Entertainment Group employs more than 1000 staff at the Adelaide Casino.
On a more positive note...
Adelaide's SkyCity Casino Celebrates 25 Years Of Neon Lights; Cheap Eats And Drinks And Profits...
Punters wander through the Adelaide Casino, spotting a table or pokie that tickles their fancy.
"Where's Cleopatra" shouts one punter. "Online casinos are better", remarks a younger player. "I told your staff I wanted the Sinatra slots", shouts the passionate gambler, chasing the big one, betting close to max bets on all lines.
It's neon lights, game jingles, screams, ohs, ahs and plenty of staff to service the patrons and keep em happy and begging for more.
The visitors enter chasing their dreams, but few get 'the big one, only to try again in a day or two. It's open almost every day or the year (not Christmas Day and Good Friday).
Overseeing the action is GM David Christian.
"It's not a weekday job. You can't go home on a Friday night and not have to worry about anything until Monday - the better run casinos are the ones where senior management do live it."
Assisted by close to 1100 staff, Christian runs the show in the 6000sq m building; the majority of which the public never will see. Behind the scenes are corridors and offices are surveillance officers, wardrobe staff, government regulators, chefs, croupier trainers... you name it Jack.
The casino first opened on December 12, 1985. It was very special, enhanced by the fact it was the second casino to open down under in Australia - after Tasmania's Wrest Point in 1973.
A few things have changed over the years, with the ability to detect cheats more easly being up the top of the list.
Richard Krawczyz is manager of the casino's security and surveillance. His team of 90 staff monitors the building's 620 CCTV cameras. They are always on the lookout for cheats - big or small.
"(Scamming) doesn't happen as much as you see on TV. But the issue is that there is a core group of a couple of hundred people, who work internationally to try to cheat casinos and cheat other customers."
Krawczyz discloses the Adelaide Casino has been the victim of cheating before. "I'll be honest, we've had thefts and we've had issues with staff. Before my time, we had a roulette clocker, a member of the public who had a little mechanical device trying to clock the speed of the roulette wheel, which would then predict potentially where the ball would drop. But we're in a fortunate position that Adelaide, from a cheats perspective, is the last place I would be coming. At less busy times (when some tables are not in use), we may have two really busy, active tables, high in play, and they're being watched every second."
Insiders may have heard that scams to hit overseas casinos in recent times have included an electronic arm hidden under a suit that swaps cards. Surveillance cameras struggle to see it.
"We knew about that on the day this bit of equipment was being used in Asia", Krawczyz says of the way casinos across the world share information. The surveillance team also is expert at behavioural analysis. "The way people sit at tables, how they play with their chips, the way they converse with other individuals, how long they sit at a table without having a bet, someone doing a lap of the building; surveillance will monitor an individual until they are comfortable with their behaviour.
"On the whole, however, people are boring...they just want to come and play."
Devine sees the often talked about high-roller room.
In the Grange Room about 420 locals (but only 100 at a time) are allowed to gamble in more privacy than is available on the main floors.
Some of the famous punters who have tried their luck in the Grange Room include former Aussie PM Bob Hawke, singer Robbie Williams and Formula One grand prix driver Nigel Mansell.
The International Room is where the mega wealthy from around the world come to play. They are the "super whales".
The whales usually come in from China, but also Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea, with most international high rollers choosing to play baccarat.
The casino prides itself on its responsible gambling policy, with a solid investment in staff training, to help stop big problems, almost before it starts.
The casino recently celebrated its 25th birthday with a 7.6m chocolate cake. The cakes details are: 540 eggs, 18kg of couverture chocolate, 45kg of caster sugar, 36kg of flour and 24 litres of oil... and a partridge in a pear tree (just kidding).
Awards...
Last month was a big month for casino awards also. Let's have a look...
PartyGaming's PartyCasino has also come back with seconds, picking up another Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month Award' for November, and also the parent company, PartyGaming, picked up the prestigious EGR Slots Operator Of The Year Award ...Some other top picks of ours who picked up awards at the EGR night of nights were:
Virgin Games (Affiliate Programme)
Betfair (Innovation, Mobile Operator and UK Sports Betting Operator)
Bwin (European Sports Betting Operator
PKR (Poker Operator)
Oh, we almost forgot...Media Man and Casino News Media 'Casino Babe Of The Month': Jenny Woo, 'Poker Babe': Kara Scott, 'Gambling Babe Personality': Pamela Anderson.
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Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Have you been naughty or nice? Did Santa give you what you had hoped for? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
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