Jail for casino spruikers

THREE Australian employees of Crown Resorts could be released from a Chinese jail within months after being handed nine and 10-month sentences for gambling related offences in a Shanghai court.

James Packer-controlled Crown will pay $1.7 million in fines on behalf of 16 employees after 19 current and former staff pleaded guilty to charges of illegal promotion of gambling on the Chinese mainland at a hearing yesterday.

Crown confirmed its head of international VIP gambling, Australian Jason O’Connor, was sentenced to 10 months in jail and fined $A390,000. With time already served, the employes should be free soon.