For 25 years, Christmas Day has been a day where Crown volunteers truly show their support for the community. On Christmas Day 2018, Crown volunteers packaged up 500 hampers for families in need across Melbourne and delivered them to guests of the Les Twentyman Foundation, who were celebrating Christmas at the Westend Market Hotel in Sunshine. Mar 23, 2020 Crown Resorts has closed its Melbourne and Perth entertainment facilities in response to government orders to shut down all non-essential businesses across the nation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Christmas by Crown Available to order from 1 December 2020 and for delivery or pick up from 21 December to 24 December 2020. Celebrate the magic of Christmas at home with the added luxury of Crown. With a six-person hamper carefully curated by Crown’s very own award-winning Chef Kelly Jackson, you can feast on all your festive favourites.

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Gaming regulators have forced Crown Resorts to delay the opening of a new $2.4billion casino in Sydney, as the trading of Crown shares are suspended.

The chairman of NSW Liquor and Gaming on Wednesday afternoon formally requested that Crown postpone the launch of the new flagship Barangaroo facility, originally planned for December 14.

The future of the casino hangs in the balance as a long-running ILGA inquiry continues to hear damning arguments and evidence about Crown's fitness to run the new venue.

Chairman Phillip Crawford told reporters at a press conference the decision was made due to 'extremely concerning ongoing evidence' uncovered at the inquiry.

'We are hopeful that Crown Resorts will agree to our request to postpone opening of all gaming activities, which would be unable to begin without approval of these regulatory matters,' he said.

'The authority has found ongoing evidence before the Bergin Inquiry to be extremely concerning, that any gaming activity at the casino before the Inquiry's findings are released in February 2021.'

He added that delays were requested being regulatory approvals have been delayed - without which the casino cannot open.

The regulator suggested a 'limited opening' of the hotel and bar, but Mr Crawford said Crown refused the offer.

Crown said it had asked for the trading halt because it had received a letter from ILGA about the opening date of Crown Sydney.

'Unless ASX decides otherwise, the securities will remain in trading halt until the earlier of the commencement of normal trading on Friday, 20 November 2020 or when the announcement is released to the market,' the Crown statement said.

The inquiry commissioner Patricia Bergin will make recommendations in February about whether Crown is suitable to run the casino.

Video: ILGA 'not comfortable' with Crown commencing gaming operations (ABC NEWS)

Crown's lawyers made a bombshell admission to the inquiry on Wednesday morning that money was likely laundered through its bank accounts, but insist the company is still fit to run the casino.

Crown's barrister Robert Craig SC admitted in closing submissions that it was more likely than not that two of the company's bank accounts had been used for money laundering, pointing to two expert reports the company commissioned.

The Riverbank and Southbank accounts have been a key focus of the inquiry after media reports alleged they were used to launder dirty cash.

Banks repeatedly closed the accounts because of money laundering fears, but those fears were not escalated to the board.

Ms Bergin expressed frustration at Crown for serving the expert reports at 11pm on Tuesday, saying it was a problem they arrived 'in the middle of the night' and with no notice, and after counsel assisting the inquiry had questioned multiple witnesses about the accounts.

Mr Craig admitted the company should have reviewed the bank accounts sooner.

Crown also admitted to shortcomings and mistakes in its anti-money laundering processes, but vowed it was cleaning up its act with a series of reforms, only some of which have come before its board.

Mr Craig advised Ms Bergin not to get 'bogged down' in the question of whether money laundering actually occurred, saying it was a distraction from the 'fundamental point' that large cash transactions should be deterred because they give rise to serious risks, and that Crown's new policies were directed to those risks.

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Ms Bergin replied that the inquiry's terms of references demanded she consider whether money laundering happened.

Earlier on Wednesday, Crown counsel Neil Young QC denied that billionaire James Packer was a de facto director of Crown once he left the board.

'He was receiving some information and expressing some views, but that is a long way short of making actual operative decisions,' Mr Young said.

Mr Young argued that Crown could not be blamed for any flaws with an agreement by Mr Packer's privacy company to sell 19.99 per cent of its shares to Hong Kong firm Melco Resorts in May 2019.

The company did not know about the transaction and had no power to stop it, he said.

He vowed the relationship between Crown and its major shareholder, Mr Packer's private vehicle, would be 'stock standard' from now on, influencing the company only through its appointed directors.

Crown on Tuesday announced it would stop dealing with all junket operators, subject to consultation with gaming regulators in Victoria, Western Australia and NSW.

Counsel assisting the inquiry has recommended findings that Crown and Mr Packer are not presently fit to be associated with the new casino.

The inquiry continues.

Melbourne’s pulse never truly stops so although Christmas Day is quieter, there are still things to see, do and eat. Find out how to get the most out of the city with our guide to what’s open on Christmas Day.

Where to eat

Cafes and restaurants

If it’s a Christmas meal you’re after, see our list of restaurants offering special Christmas Day dining. Make sure you contact individual venues for booking availability. Some restaurants will be open in Chinatown,Crown Entertainment Complex, Docklands, Lygon Street and Southgate.

The following venues are open on Christmas Day:

• La Petite Creperie kiosks at Swanston St and La Petite Creperie in a Vintage Caravan at QV will be open from 12pm – 10.30pm.
• The Butchers Diner is open for some carnivore style sustenance from breakfast to dinner and later into the evening.
• Auction Rooms in North Melbourne will have their kitchen open from 7.30am – 3.30pm but they’ll still be serving coffee and cakes until 5pm.
• Tim Ho Wan on Bourke Street is open from 10am – 10pm to cater for all your dumpling needs
• Square and Compass in East Melbourne are open 7.30 – 10am for coffee.
• Transport Hotel is open from 11am until late

Things to do

Christmas light shows and decorations

Santa will be taking a well-earned break on Christmas Day, but Christmas Square is still open. This is your last chance to see the twinkling lights of the 16 metre tall LED Christmas tree at Federation Square. The spectacular Christmas Projections also finish on Christmas night. See this year’s feature show, a ‘Very Melbourne Night Before Christmas’. Written by Marieke Hardy and narrated by Lee Lin Chin it’s on at the State Library Victoria. After that, move on to the Melbourne Town Hall and this year’s new location, Princes Bridge.

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Christmas Square at Fed Square

Section 8’s Christmas orphan’s party

Finish off their 8 Days of Christmas festivities with a free Christmas day BBQ party at Section 8. Whether you’re riding solo or you want to take Nan for post-pav kick ons, they’ve got the ultimate food, bev and music lineup to make your day merry and bright. On from 2 to 11pm.

Attractions

Keep the family entertained at one of these great Melbourne attractions.

• • Eureka Skydeck 88, 10am to 5.30pm
  • Melbourne Zoo, 9am to 5pm
  • Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, 9.30am to 6pm
  • Crown Entertainment Complex, open from 12pm
  • Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, 1pm to 9.30pm

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Cinemas

Catch a Christmas Day flick at a city cinema.

• Village Cinemas, Crown Entertainment Complex, Southbank
• Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton
• Hoyts Melbourne Central, Melbourne Central, Cnr Latrobe and Swanston Streets, Melbourne

Architecture and public walks

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Take advantage of the city being quieter to explore Melbourne’s laneways, waterfront and architectural gems. See our street art walking guide and public art sites to map your journey.

Parks and gardens

Bring a picnic and hope for good weather at these lovely parks and gardens.

See a full list of Melbourne parks or find twelve gardens close to the CBD.

Guilfoyles Volcano at the Royal Botanic Gardens

Supermarkets

If you’re desperate for milk, bread, a sandwich or a coffee, some 7-Eleven stores will be open. These include Federation Square, Swanston Street, Elizabeth Street and Bourke Street. The IGA Express stores in Queen and Collins streets will also be open.

Chemists

The Health Smart pharmacy within the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre is open 24 hours, every day of the week.

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Public transport

Public transport is free on Christmas day and operates to a Sunday timetable.
V/Line (regional trains) are free and operate to a Sunday timetable. Some services may require bookings.

Airport transfers

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Skybus and Starbus services to Melbourne Airport operate as normal.