Family members of some of James Packer`s Crown Group employees arrested in China reportedly met with lawyers for the first time on Monday evening.
A total of 18 sales and marketing personnel were arrested, three of whom were Australians. With China`s repeated actions to crack down on the gambling industry, these people could face up to 10 years in prison.
Crown lawyers are meeting with family members in Shanghai, most of whom were arrested on October 13 and 14.
One of the three Australians arrested was James O Connor, the head of Crown`s VIP International team, which is responsible for attracting high-profile gamblers from overseas to Australia`s Crown Casino.
China`s foreign ministry has said only three Australians, including a Melbourne crown executive, were "arrested for gambling".
It is understood that two of the three Australians live in China, and only O Connor, who lives in Melbourne, was arrested on a business trip.
Australia`s foreign ministry says the crown has provided lawyers for the three men.
The arrests are known to be linked to attracting wealthy Chinese tourists to gambling overseas, which could lead to up to 10 years in prison.
The fate of these Australians is unknown.
Foreign Minister Bi Xiaopu said the federal goverment had been informed that three Australians were being held in Shanghai.
More than 10 Chinese employees have been arrested in different cities in co-ordinated operations.
