SYDNEY, Australia — The authorities in China have detained 18 employees from an Australian company, Crown Resorts, including the vice president of its V.I.P. international operations, in a crackdown on the promotion of gambling in China.
In a statement issued Monday, Crown Resorts, which operates casinos in the Australian cities of Melbourne and Perth as well as in London, Macau and Manila, said it had not been able to speak with its employees and did not know why they were being held.
The vice president of V.I.P. international operations, Jason O’Connor, was among those detained, the statement said. Local news media reported that he was responsible for attracting wealthy Chinese gamblers to Crown’s resorts in Australia.
The Australian government confirmed that three of its citizens had been detained.
“We are aware of reports of the possible detention of a number of Crown International Group employees across China overnight on 13-14 October, including three Australians,” the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade wrote in a statement. “Chinese authorities have three days in which to notify of the detention of Australians according to the terms of a bilateral consular treaty.” The department expected to hear from Chinese officials later Monday.
Crown said it was working with the Australian government to urgently make contact with its employees and ascertain their welfare.
The Crown employees were arrested in raids that appeared to be linked to measures to restrict the promotion of gambling in China. Casino operators are not allowed to advertise in China, but Crown and other companies can promote their resorts and tourist attractions in the cities where the casinos are.
Local news media reported a statement by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that said the Australians had been detained “for suspected involvement in gambling crimes.” It said the case remained under investigation.
More than a third of the revenue generated by Crown is from overseas visitors, many of whom travel from China. The resorts include high-end restaurants and shops and luxury accommodations. The company, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and based in Melbourne, is partly owned by an Australian billionaire, James Packer.
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