Latest news with #CrownCasino
7NEWS
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Wayne Carey caught in explosive late-night physical altercation
North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey has been filmed in a heated altercation with a man he described as an 'antagonist' outside a Melbourne pub. The 54-year-old was captured tussling with one man while another, who appears to be Carey's friend, tries to diffuse the situation, in a physical exchange that spilled out onto the streets surrounding Albert Park Hotel on Thursday night. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Wayne Carey caught in altercation. In the video, the champion AFL goalkicker and ex-commentator can be seen grabbing at the man's shirt before another man yells out, 'Wayne, Wayne, relax'. The struggle continues as the man attempting to keep peace then speaks to the third man directly, telling him to 'f*** off' and to 'shut the f*** up and go'. A female voice is then heard yelling from somewhere across the road, saying, 'Guys, walk away, people live here. Keep walking. Move it on'. It's the latest in a string of controversies littered throughout Carey's life since his playing days. In 2022, Carey was cleared of any wrongdoing after having a bag of white powder spill out of his pocket at Crown Casino in Perth. He insisted the bag contained crushed-up anti-inflammatory medication. His most infamous controversy was the extramarital affair he had with Kelli Stevens, the wife of former teammate Anthony Stevens, in 2002. Carey and Anthony Stevens have had a long-running feud in the 23 years since, but are set to be reunited at the Kangaroos' 100-year celebration later this year. Carey, Stevens and North great Glenn Archer will all be present for the Round 20 clash against the Western Bulldogs, which takes place in prime time on Thursday night. The trio will show a united front, nearly 25 years since Carey's messy exit from the club. It comes just six months after the club unveiled a video celebration of the centenary year that interestingly excluded Carey. Former teammate Corey McKernan was vocal at the time, but Carey and other North Melbourne greats, including Stevens and Archer will all be present for the special night. Channel 7's Caroline Wilson revealed the exclusive details of Carey's return on 7NEWS Melbourne and The Agenda Setters last month. 'All three men (Carey, Stevens, Archer) are well aware that they will be there together and united for the first time,' Wilson said 'There was speculation last year when North unveiled their centenary jumper. And if you remember, there were North champions from through the eras and there was no Wayne Carey, and Corey McKernan was very upset about this. 'In 2022, a year later, they had a 25-year premiership reunion for the '96 flag, and there was an altercation at a pub between Anthony Stevens and Wayne Carey. We know the history there. 'They had to be separated. I don't think it was physical, but it was not nice. 'And when there was a motorcade the next day at Marvel Stadium, Anthony Stevens wasn't there and Wayne Carey was. 'So the club has worked really hard to get all these guys within the fold. And clearly you can't celebrate your 100th anniversary without Wayne Carey being there.'
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Landmark poker machine reforms delayed by years, angering anti-gambling advocates
Landmark reforms to make poker machines safer for Victorian punters have been delayed by years by the Allan government, a decision that has infuriated colleagues and gambling reformers. Former premier Daniel Andrews made a shock policy announcement in 2023 to force all punters to preset how much they were willing to lose before playing the pokies — the scheme is often known as "carded play" or "mandatory precommitment". A bill to give the government the power to set up carded play was introduced to the parliament last November, with a trial to be held in 40 venues for three months beginning in the middle of this year. But that deadline has passed. Crown Casino was forced to implement carded play on its 2,400 pokies following the royal commission into its behaviour. As a result, pokies losses have decreased at the casino and it has been held up as a beacon of responsible gambling by some of the casino's once-fiercest critics, including Tim Costello. The legislation to set up a statewide scheme passed the lower house, but the government is yet to bring on a debate in the upper house, despite having the votes needed to pass the laws. The ABC understands that the government will debate the bill in the coming two weeks of parliament, under a plan that will defer the statewide scheme until well after the 2026 election. A trial will still need to be held to find the appropriate technology and to test the scheme. That decision is reflected in this week's state budget, with Treasury banking on pokies taxes continuing to flow to state coffers without interruption. Last year, the state collected $1.4 billion in pokies taxes — that is forecast to grow to $1.5 billion by 2028-29. Had the state planned to implement carded play, the tax take would have dropped. When the bill was first introduced late last year, a trial was slated to begin in May. On Wednesday, Premier Jacinta Allan said negotiations in the upper house were continuing. "We are committed to those reforms,'' Ms Allan said. The laws have the support of the Greens, Animal Justice Party and the Legalise Cannabis party, meaning they could pass the upper house without major negotiation. Reverand Costello from the Alliance for Gambling Reform has urged the premier to act, saying pokies are the most harmful form of gambling. "They are literally the crack cocaine of gambling,'' he said. "The cashless card at Crown pokies is working to prevent harm and Labor promised the public to trial and implement this card to all pub and Club and pub pokies. The Coalition is opposed to the scheme, citing concerns from the Australian Hotels Association. Greens MP Katherine Copsey said the party hoped Labor was not planning to capitulate to the pokies lobby. "That would be unconscionable by Labor. The Greens are ready to work with Labor to pass this pokies reform right now. We have the numbers in parliament, so what are Labor waiting for?" she said.
Herald Sun
30-04-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Ballarat's Golden City Hotel to be auctioned off at Crown Casino
Don't miss out on the headlines from Ballarat. Followed categories will be added to My News. A popular pub and Ballarat Central landmark is expected to attract a price tag of more than $4m when it goes under the hammer at a Melbourne auction next month. The Golden City Hotel at 429 Sturt St — the building, not the lease — will be part of an investment portfolio auction at Melbourne's Crown Casino on May 14. The Victorian 1850s two-storey hotel, a landmark on the city's main road, is leased and run by publican Jamie Winton, with options for him to continue doing so until 2054. Ballarat Colliers agent David Wright said the Golden City Hotel's landlords wished to move on and 'position their money in other ventures'. He called the hotel a 'longstanding enterprise' that had been 'known for generations' and catered to locals and tourists alike. 'There's a good rent and for all intents and purposes it's a successful business,' Mr Wright said. 'There's no hiding the fact that hospitality has been going through a tough patch. 'However, an iconic establishment like the Golden City Hotel is going to stand the test of time because of its reputation, because of its location.' Given the venue's net annual income of nearly $389,000, Mr Wright estimated it would sell for $4.3m to $4.6m. The Golden City Hotel is open every day from 9am to 10pm and has a bar, bistro, cafe, and event and conference rooms.
Express Tribune
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Drake down under: Rapper returns to Australia after 8 years to kick off 'Anita Max Win' tour
Drake has officially touched down in Melbourne, Australia, and the rapper is making sure his arrival is anything but low-key. The 38-year-old music mogul, known for hits like 'God's Plan' and 'One Dance', is gearing up for his highly-anticipated 'Anita Max Win' tour, which kicks off in Perth on February 4 before heading to Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena for four shows starting February 9. Drake shared a glimpse of his luxurious lifestyle on Instagram, posting a carousel of photos captioned, "I reckon we're home mate." The images included a mock paparazzi-style shot of him dining at Nobu with his entourage, a video of him stepping off his private jet with a red solo cup in hand, and a snapshot of his opulent $25,000-per-night Presidential Villa at Crown Towers. The Presidential Villa, which occupies the entire 38th floor of Crown Towers, spans over 1,000 square meters and features four bedrooms, two bathrooms off the master suite, a private massage room, a dining room for 12 guests, and a wall-to-wall television in one of its two lounge rooms. Drake and his team will also enjoy access to a personal gym, private butler service, and a 24/7 on-call service team. Drake's private jet, a Boeing 767 affectionately named 'Air Drake', is valued at $185 million and was gifted to him by Cargojet in 2019. The rapper has previously defended using the massive aircraft for short-haul flights, despite criticism over its environmental impact. Upon arriving in Melbourne, Drake wasted no time immersing himself in the local scene. He spent his first hours at Crown Casino, where he boasted about his winnings in a since-deleted Instagram Story. The photo showed $25,000 casino tokens scattered across his lap, totaling an estimated $550,000. "Melbourne giving me the welcome back pack," he wrote, adding, "Finally...a casino showing love in Australia," alongside a laugh-cry emoji. The rapper also stirred up nostalgia among fans by sharing a throwback photo from his 2017 Australian tour, where he performed in a Wallabies jersey. "Who do we know in Australia?" he captioned another post, calling on old friends to reconnect during his stay. Drake's tour marks his first performances in Australia in eight years, and fans are thrilled to have him back. However, some were concerned about the timing, as the tour coincides with the NFL Super Bowl on February 10. Fortunately, the Super Bowl will air in the morning AEDT, leaving plenty of time for fans to enjoy both events. Adding to the drama, Drake's rap rival Kendrick Lamar is reportedly planning to perform his diss track 'Not Like Us' during the Super Bowl halftime show. The song, which accuses Drake of being a pedophile, sparked a heated feud between the two artists last year. Despite Drake's recent lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the track, sources claim Lamar is determined to perform it, stating, "He doesn't care about what Drake says or what he thinks about the song; it's a hit." As Drake prepares to take the stage in Australia, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an unforgettable tour, complete with the rapper's signature flair for luxury and showmanship.
