• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Saturday 6 September 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

Inquiry asked to find The Star Sydney unsuitable to hold NSW casino license

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Wed 1 Jun 2022 at 05:22
10 Years Ago: The Star war

The Star Sydney

29
SHARES
724
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Counsel assisting an inquiry into The Star Sydney’s suitability to retain its NSW casino license has called on Star to be found unsuitable.

Delivering closing submissions following two-and-a-half months of public hearings, Naomi Sharp SC told the inquiry on Tuesday that Star had demonstrated failures across multiple levels of the business and asked inquiry-lead Adam Bell SC to follow the examples set by recent inquiries into fellow casino operator Crown Resorts in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. All three found Crown unsuitable but provided a pathway for them to return to suitability.

“We submit that the evidence in the public hearing establishes that the Star is not suitable to hold the casino licence and that its close associate Star Entertainment is not suitable either,” Sharp said, adding that the company was a long way from being a suitable operator.

“There has not yet been the period of deep reflection which of course will be necessary in order to develop a concrete plan about what … can bring these corporations into a position of suitability.”

Sharp also questioned whether the recent departure of senior executives and directors, including CEO Matt Bekier and Chairman John O’Neill, was enough to turn the tide.

“It is not enough to bring a corporation into suitability simply to terminate the employment of, or part company with a number of senior officers,” she said.

“There is more to the question of suitability than particular individuals within the corporation.”

The review, prompted by allegations aired by local Australian media outlets late last year, has seen a raft of issues raised around Star’s relationship with Asian junket promoters, including liberties granted to then-leading junket Suncity Group in operating its own VIP room at The Star Sydney and the illegal use of China UnionPay cards by Star to disguise gambling transactions.

Similar findings around the use of China UnionPay cards by fellow Australian casino operator Crown Resorts saw Crown whacked with an AU$80 million fine by Victoria’s gaming regulator this week.

Star has already suspended all domestic and international rebate play programs in the wake of issues raised by the review, while a number of directors and senior executives have fallen on their sword.

During her closing submissions, Sharp praised some departed directors, including Bekier, for being “frank and candid” when giving evidence but others didn’t fare quite so well, with Chief Financial Officer Harry Theodore described as being “very reluctant to make confessions.” Former The Star Sydney Managing Director Greg Hawkins was also accused by Sharp of giving “less than complete testimony” and of having a track record of giving “false evidence” during the Bergin inquiry into Crown Resorts in 2020.

The final report by Adam Bell SC is due to be submitted to ILGA by 31 August 2022.

RelatedPosts

Ciarán Carruthers: Crowning glory

Crown Resorts rolls out AI to improve player protection abilities

Fri 5 Sep 2025 at 05:37
The Star Sydney’s casino license in limbo as final report from second inquiry handed to regulator

Son of Star’s largest shareholder joins Star Entertainment Group board as non-executive director

Sun 31 Aug 2025 at 09:16
Australia’s Star Entertainment Group says available cash halved in December 2024 quarter as liquidity crunch bites again

Star Entertainment Group falls to AU$471.5 million loss in FY25 as remediation, regulatory hurdles continue to bite

Fri 29 Aug 2025 at 07:38
Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26
Load More
Tags: Australiacasino licenseinquirypublic hearingsStar Entertainment GroupThe Star (Sydney)unsuitable
Share12Share2
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 – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
NWR

Related Posts

Vietnam’s new Van Don integrated resort project scheduled for 2032 opening

Vietnam’s new Van Don integrated resort project scheduled for 2032 opening

by Ben Blaschke
Sat 6 Sep 2025 at 09:34

A new US$2 billion integrated resort to be built by Vietnamese development giant Sun Group in Van Don, Quang Ninh Province is planned to open in 2032, the company has informed Vietnam’s central government. The update, reported by local media...

IAG announces 19 sponsors of IAG EXPO’s Manila After Dark Official Welcome Event at Newport World Resorts on Monday 8 September

IAG announces 19 sponsors of IAG EXPO’s Manila After Dark Official Welcome Event at Newport World Resorts on Monday 8 September

by Newsdesk
Fri 5 Sep 2025 at 10:26

Inside Asian Gaming is delighted to announce a total of 19 sponsors for Manila After Dark (MAD) next Monday 8 September – the official welcome event for IAG EXPO, taking place at Manila’s Newport World Resorts. Running from 8 to 10 September,...

MGM Cotai

Bill Hornbuckle: Macau promotional environment now locked in place despite rapid return of VIPs

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 5 Sep 2025 at 06:45

Macau’s notoriously aggressive promotional environment has settled into a rhythm, according to MGM Resorts CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle – despite competition in the premium gaming segments rising as former junket players return to the city in swathes. Hornbuckle discussed...

AGEM Index up 14.4% in October on Aristocrat, Light & Wonder stock price gains

AGEM Index grows 5% in August as Konami, Aristocrat show strong stock performance

by Newsdesk
Fri 5 Sep 2025 at 05:56

The AGEM Index – a monthly stock performance guide comprising 10 global gaming suppliers – grew by 5.0% month-on-month or 93.66 points to 1,983.73 points in August, with Konami seeing the largest positive contribution. Konami had only last month been...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
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

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English