• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Sunday 22 June 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Star CEO Matt Bekier says he was “let down” by VIP team

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Mon 2 May 2022 at 19:32
Off Track: AUSTRAC’s AML Failures

The Star Sydney

43
SHARES
1.1k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The recently departed Managing Director and CEO of Star Entertainment Group has told an inquiry into the company’s suitability to retain its NSW casino license that he was let down by the senior team in charge of its VIP operations.

Fronting public hearings on Monday in the wake of recent media allegations surrounding Star’s relationship with Asian junket promoters, Matt Bekier said he accepted responsibility for the fact that unethical behavior had taken place under his watch, including the illegal use of China Union Pay cards to disguise gambling transactions and allowing leading junket Suncity Group to operate its own VIP room at The Star Sydney.

“As CEO I was accountable and responsible for all parts of the company,” said Bekier, who resigned his position in March.

However, Bekier also blamed his staff for failing to keep him updated on processes within the international VIP segment.

“When it came to the VIP-related matters … I had a failure of the first and the second line of defence,” he said. “I feel let down by people in the risk team and people in the VIP team.”

Bekier also insisted it was difficult for the Board of Directors to have any great knowledge of the actions of its VIP team.

“It was very hard for the board to form [such a] view,” he said. “I didn’t think the business was out of control, and if I didn’t see those problems I’m not sure the board could have seen them.

“If the board of directors had known about any of these things, they would have supported me in shutting down that part of the business a long time ago.”

Bekier defended the culture of Star Entertainment Group as a whole, describing it as “very good”. Instead, he said he was “let down” by a subculture that was exclusive to the “dark art” of acquiring international high rollers.

“It’s essentially dealing with VIP customers … because it seemed like a bit of a dark art, we didn’t challenge them. I didn’t challenge them,” Bekier said.

“The dark art of acquiring customers, to convince them to fly long range and gamble in our casinos … settle and collect the money. That’s very different from the rest of our business.

“It’s a very specialist area [and I was] quite comfortable letting people with a lot of experience deal with that part of the business. Unfortunately it looks like the systems and standards and expectations that we have for everything else in the company somehow weren’t applied.”

Asked why Star had engaged in certain practices, such as using China Union Pay cards to disguise gambling transactions, Bekier admitted that this was standard industry practice. However, he denied suggestions that he had refuted the findings of a KPMG report which had found evidence of serious AML failings within the company’s VIP operations.

RelatedPosts

US media giant Fox Corp said to be eyeing racing and wagering arm of Australia’s Tabcorp

Tabcorp fined AU$4 million for spamming VIP customers

Tue 17 Jun 2025 at 05:44
Ainsworth flags 1H25 revenue growth on Australian market strength but Novomatic takeover facing opposition by family of founder

Ainsworth says ASX market announcement on allegations against CEO Neumann were unnecessary

Mon 16 Jun 2025 at 14:29
Harald Neumann steps down as Novomatic CEO

Case of curious timing as six-year old investigation into ex-Novomatic CEO rehashed before crucial shareholder vote on full takeover of Ainsworth

Mon 16 Jun 2025 at 05:19
10 Years Ago: Crown’s jewel

NSW Premier says no intention to allow poker machines at Crown Sydney

Mon 16 Jun 2025 at 05:09
Load More
Tags: Australiacasino licenseJunketsMatt Bekierpublic inquiryStar Entertainment GroupThe Star (Sydney)VIP
Share17Share3
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:38

I was recently asked by someone working at a foreigner-only casino for my thoughts on the outlook for the Asian...

On the brink

On the brink

by Pierce Chan
Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:27

The transition period for Macau’s 11 satellite casinos is set to expire at the end of this year, after which...

A moral defense of gambling

A moral defense of gambling

by Andrew Russell
Wed 28 May 2025 at 18:19

Economist Andrew Russell explores the differences between community benefit and in-principle arguments for the existence of a legal gambling industry...

Face to face

Face to face

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 28 May 2025 at 18:08

Konami caught the eye at the recent G2E Asia show in Macau with its SYNK Vision Tables, which utilize facial...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
Jumbo
568Win

Related Posts

IAG’s Andrew W Scott addresses Thai senate subcommittee on Entertainment Complex Bill and key considerations for foreign investors

IAG’s Andrew W Scott addresses Thai senate subcommittee on Entertainment Complex Bill and key considerations for foreign investors

by Newsdesk
Fri 20 Jun 2025 at 06:53

Inside Asian Gaming’s Vice Chairman and CEO, Andrew W Scott, spoke yesterday at a hearing of Thailand’s ad hoc subcommittee studying the economic impacts and feasibility of establishing entertainment complexes (ECs) with casinos and online gaming, at the Thai Parliament...

Philippine tourist arrivals down 0.5% in 1Q25 on fewer visitors from South Korea, China

Contribution of Philippines tourism industry to national GDP rises to 8.9% in 2024

by Newsdesk
Fri 20 Jun 2025 at 06:46

The Philippines tourism industry saw its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product in terms of share rise to 8.9% in 2024, up from 8.7% a year earlier, according to latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. Tourism Direct Gross...

Philippines’ maiden PIGO platform generates GGR of US$2.3 million in first six months of operation

DigiPlus appoints new CEO and CDO to drive further online gaming growth

by Newsdesk
Fri 20 Jun 2025 at 06:44

Philippines gaming technology giant DigiPlus – the country’s leading platform in the online and remote gaming space – has announced the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer and a Chief Digital Officer. In a Philippine Stock Exchange filing on...

China’s Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng Meets with Wynn CEO Craig Billings

China’s Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng Meets with Wynn CEO Craig Billings

by Newsdesk
Thu 19 Jun 2025 at 19:54

Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings met this week with the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, to discuss topics including China’s economic development and Sino–U.S. economic and trade relations. The Chinese Embassy in the United States released details...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English