(Adds stock movement, background, commission response)
By Ambar Warrick
March 5 (Reuters) - Australia's Crown Resorts CWN.AX saidit did not breach gambling regulations when it conducted a trialof gaming machines last year, though the state regulator hasinformed the casino operator that the trial may have contravenedrules.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulationis taking the view that a trial involving varying a gamingmachine type and certain games conducted by Crown Melbourne in2017 may have breached the gambling regulation act (GRA), CrownResorts said in a statement on Monday.
The company said that the trial did not require priorapproval and therefore did not breach the act, the statementadded. It said that its Melbourne unit had recently provided adetailed submission of its position to the commission.
A spokesperson from the Victorian Commission said it wascurrently considering information provided by Crown to determinewhether there were grounds for disciplinary action.
Crown, controlled by billionaire James Packer, has battledseveral unproven claims of poker machine fixing and encouragingproblem gambling at its flagship Melbourne casino, although itwas acquitted in December of allegations that it gave gamblersmisleading odds. company was also slapped with a class action lawsuit inDecember for allegedly failing to inform shareholders of amarketing campaign in China that resulted in staff arrests and aslump in the share price. of the company fell about 0.9 percent in afternoontrade, compared to a 0.6 percent decline in the broader market .AXJO .