Australian gambling giant Crown was hit with a class action Monday after 18 employees were arrested in China, alleging it did not give shareholders enough information about the risks being taken.

The employees, who pleaded guilty, were held for 10 months on charges of luring rich Chinese to Australia, before being released in August. 

They included Jason O'Connor, the executive vice president of Crown division VIP International.

The case hurt the James Packer-controlled casino operator's high roller revenues, with anti-corruption laws in China banning organising gambling activities overseas for wealthy Chinese.