Melco Resorts Puts Off Acquiring Crown Shares Following Investigation into the Deal
Recently updated on January 28th, 2026
Melco Resorts and Entertainment, an Asian casino operator, has put off the purchase of a large portion of shares in Crown Resorts. This follows an announcement by the NSW, New South Wales, which is the governing body for Independent Liquor & Gaming, that it is investigating the business deal. On Wednesday, Melco Resorts announced that they have come to an agreement with Crown Holdings to put the brakes on the deal. They stated that the acquisition has been put off from September 30th until 60 days after the inquiry has concluded.
Melco Resorts revealed that in May, it had already reached an agreement with Crown Holdings, owned by James Packer. The agreement stated that for Melco to obtain a 19.99% stake in Crown Resorts, it would have to pay a total amount of AU$1.76 billion (NZD $1.87 billion). The deal was set to be completed through two payments, with one taking place in June and the other by September. Due to the recent NSW investigation, the other payment, which is the second one, has now been delayed.
Details of the Melco Resorts and Crown Resorts Deal
In their agreement, both Melco Resorts and Crown Resorts have agreed to finalise the deal. According to some reports, the purchase agreement can be extended. Currently, the first batch of shares, which amounts to 67,675,000, was purchased by Melco, giving the company a 10% stake in Crown.
It has now emerged that if the results of the investigation are undesirable to Melco or Crown, then the deal may be abandoned.
Reason for Inquiry
The NSW Authority for Independent Liquor & Gaming is said to be investigating the agreement between Melco Resorts and Crown Resorts based on the Melco Chairperson having links to Stanley Ho, known for owning 19 casinos in Macau. This is because Crown Resorts is banned from doing business with Stanley Ho.
Check Out the Latest Below:
Published by Taralynn
January 28, 2026
Categorie(s): Latest News, New Zealand, North Island, South Island
About the Author
Taralynn Engels is a seasoned casino news writer with a passion for keeping her readers up-to-date with the latest happenings in the gambling industry. With over five years of professional writing experience, Taralynn has developed a deep understanding of the casino industry and a knack for delivering engaging and informative content.
Aside from her in-depth knowledge of the casino industry, Taralynn possesses excellent writing skills that allow her to craft captivating narratives that keep readers hooked until the last word. Her ability to simplify complex concepts and present them in an accessible manner guarantees that her articles are enjoyed by both seasoned casino enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
More Posts from Taralynn.
Related Posts
Published by Taralynn
March 5, 2026
Categorie(s): Big Wins, Latest News, New Zealand, North Island, South Island
Recently updated on March 5th, 2026Last week, Crown Resorts sold its majority share in CrownBet to Canadian gaming firm, the Stars Group. This move is just one of many cost-cutting measures the company has had to make in the past year after the arrests of its Macau employees. So far, the Aussie gambling operator has […]
Published by Taralynn
January 18, 2026
Categorie(s): Latest News, New Zealand, North Island, South Island
Recently updated on January 18th, 2026Leading bookmakers, Sportsbet is to supply NZ Racing on all its digital platforms in Australia. Sportsbet is the largest bookmaker in Australia owned by Flutter Entertainment. The deal was struck between Sportsbet and the New Zealand Racing Industry Transition agency (RITA). Sportbet has become the frontier for New Zealand racing. RITA […]
Published by Taralynn
January 8, 2026
Categorie(s): Latest News, New Zealand, North Island, South Island
Recently updated on January 8th, 2026In 2018, there are YouTube videos for almost any hobby or occasion. As a matter of fact, there are hundreds of gambling channels catering to casino players. While this may seem like a good way to learn, YouTube is now suspending the channels according to new policies. These policies are […]
Published by Mark
February 13, 2026
Categorie(s): Latest News, New Zealand, North Island, South Island
Recently updated on February 13th, 2026SkyCity Entertainment Group’s net profit for the first half of the year is reportedly down 11%. The net revenue is calculated for the period of six months that ended December last year. In 2017, the casino giant reported a $93.5 million profit, only for the number to drop to $82.8 […]
Published by Taralynn
January 10, 2026
Categorie(s): Big Wins, Latest News, New Zealand, North Island, South Island
Recently updated on January 10th, 2026Gaming software giant, Novomatic AG, has just bought controlling shares in their Australian rival, Ainsworth Game Technology Limited. Their 52% stake in the company has been approved by a number of regulatory bodies. More so, the deal was finalised last Friday before founder, Len Ainsworth, announced that he would be […]
Melco Resorts and Entertainment, an Asian casino operator, has put off the purchase of a large portion of shares in Crown Resorts. This follows an announcement by the NSW, New South Wales, which is the governing body for Independent Liquor & Gaming, that it is investigating the business deal. On Wednesday, Melco Resorts announced that they have come to an agreement with Crown Holdings to put the brakes on the deal. They stated that the acquisition has been put off from September 30th until 60 days after the inquiry has concluded.
