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| Crown Resorts staff held in China are formally arrested | Crown Resorts staff held in China are formally arrested |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three Australian employees of gambling group Crown Resorts, who were detained in China last month, have been formally arrested, Australia's foreign minister has said. | Three Australian employees of gambling group Crown Resorts, who were detained in China last month, have been formally arrested, Australia's foreign minister has said. |
| The trio were among 18 Crown staff held after a police operation, believed to target Crown's marketing activities. | The trio were among 18 Crown staff held after a police operation, believed to target Crown's marketing activities. |
| They include Jason O'Connor, a senior executive in charge of attracting Chinese high-rollers to Australia. | They include Jason O'Connor, a senior executive in charge of attracting Chinese high-rollers to Australia. |
| Casino gambling, and promoting gambling abroad, are illegal in mainland China. | Casino gambling, and promoting gambling abroad, are illegal in mainland China. |
| Foreign Minster Julie Bishop said the three were arrested on suspicion of gambling offences. | Foreign Minster Julie Bishop said the three were arrested on suspicion of gambling offences. |
| Australian officials have met the men to offer advice and support, as well as passing on messages from their families. | Australian officials have met the men to offer advice and support, as well as passing on messages from their families. |
| "There is an anti-corruption agenda of President Xi Jinping and gambling is one of the areas of interest, so we are subject to the laws of China," the minister said. | "There is an anti-corruption agenda of President Xi Jinping and gambling is one of the areas of interest, so we are subject to the laws of China," the minister said. |
| Of the 18 people originally arrested, one was been bailed, but the fate of the remaining 14 people - all believed to be Chinese nationals - is unclear. | Of the 18 people originally arrested, one was been bailed, but the fate of the remaining 14 people - all believed to be Chinese nationals - is unclear. |
| High-rollers | High-rollers |
| Crown, controlled by James Packer, is yet to comment on the latest development. | Crown, controlled by James Packer, is yet to comment on the latest development. |
| But like other casino groups across Asia, it sees wealthy Chinese gamblers as an important part of their business. | But like other casino groups across Asia, it sees wealthy Chinese gamblers as an important part of their business. |
| High rollers, known as VIPs, gambled $46.8bn (A$61bn) in the last financial year in Crown's Melbourne and Perth casinos. | High rollers, known as VIPs, gambled $46.8bn (A$61bn) in the last financial year in Crown's Melbourne and Perth casinos. |
| Crown said that Chinese gamblers only made up half this total, and counted for just 12% of total revenue for the business. | Crown said that Chinese gamblers only made up half this total, and counted for just 12% of total revenue for the business. |
| Casinos in Australia were seen as one potential beneficiary from a corruption crackdown initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping - which pushed gamblers away from the casinos of Macau - where revenue fell by more than a third last year - to places further afield. |