AFL legend Wayne Carey stands down but says white powder ‘not illegal’ after casino incident

AFL legend Wayne Carey has reportedly been banned from Crown casinos for two years after being caught with a bag of white powder in Perth.

But the North Melbourne champion, who has temporarily stood down from his Seven TV commentary role, says the substance was “not illegal”.

Carey was gambling at the Burswood venue when a zip-lock bag filled with white powder dropped from his pocket onto one of the gaming room tables, reports the Herald Sun.

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After the croupier activated an alarm, casino security personnel came and questioned the goalkicker who admitted the bag was his own. CCTV also confirmed it.

“It was not an illegal substance, it was offered to security. Security didn’t take it,” Carey told The Age.

“They just said it’s not a great look, I understood that, and we left without incident.”

He claimed it was a bag of a crushed-up anti-inflammatory which he took with dinner.

Carey was issued with a “withdrawal of license” notice which means he cannot attend Crown properties. This saw him kicked out of the Crown hotel he was staying at ahead of the Fremantle-Bulldogs elimination final.

He will also be unable to attend the Brownlow Medal count which will be held at Crown Palladium in Melbourne.

“We are aware of a recent incident at Crown Perth where a patron was escorted from the premises,” a spokesperson said.

“The incident was handled within our standard procedures and due to privacy reasons, we are unable to provide further comment. At Crown Perth our priority remains keeping our guests, employees and the community safe.

“As trained professionals, our employees are entrusted to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for customers and staff at all times, and will take necessary action to ensure these policies are abided by.”

Carey has been involved in a series of controversies in his personal life including a charge of the indecent assault of a woman in 1996, having an affair with teammate Anthony Stevens’ wife, an arrest for breaking a wine glass in an ex-fiancee’s face in Miami in 2007, and assaulting officers while resisting arrest in 2008.

He is a commentator for Seven and writer for The Age.