• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Monday 4 August 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
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
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Reports claim The Star Sydney to be found unsuitable to hold NSW casino license

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Tue 13 Sep 2022 at 06:11
Star management said to have been furious at contents of 2018 audit report on junket, AML compliance

The Star Sydney

50
SHARES
1.3k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Australia’s Star Entertainment Group entered a trading halt on Monday amid speculation that a regulatory report to be made public this week will find the company unsuitable to retain its casino license for The Star Sydney.

In an ASX filing, Star said it noted media reports around the “yet to be released report from the review of The Star Sydney undertaken by Mr Adam Bell SC in accordance with the Casino Control Act 1992,” adding, “The Star has not received a copy of the report, is unaware of its contents, but understands the report will be released soon.”

While Bell’s findings are expected to be made public no later than Wednesday, The Australian reported Monday that they contain a recommendation Star be found unfit to hold a NSW casino licence unless it overhauls its Board of Directors and undertakes compliance reform.

It is unlikely, however, that Star would lose its license immediately, with the newly formed NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) expected to follow a similar route to regulators in Victoria and Western Australia where Crown Resorts has been given two years to prove it has reformed under the supervision of an independent monitor.

The now displaced NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA), which was handed a copy of Bell’s report in August (since turned over to the NICC), has already appointed an independent monitor to oversee and report on The Star Sydney’s operations.

ILGA also oversaw Crown’s efforts to prove reform in NSW, having initially been found unsuitable to open the casino at Crown Sydney following release of the Bergin Report in early 2020. The casino eventually opened its doors on 8 August this year having been granted permission in June – almost three years after Crown Sydney’s non-gaming outlets welcomed their first customers in December 2019.

Counsel assisting the inquiry into The Star Sydney had called on Star to be found unsuitable, citing failures across multiple levels of the business during closing arguments.

“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,” said Naomi Sharp SC at the time.

“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.”

While the company looks likely to be found unsuitable as requested, Star will no doubt argue that its reform agenda is already well underway with CEO Matt Bekier and Chairman John O’Neill having already stepped down.

Former Tatts Group executive Robert Cooke has since been named Managing Director and CEO of Star Entertainment Group and former banking executive Scott Wharton CEO of The Star Sydney.

The review into The Star Sydney was initially prompted by allegations aired by local Australian media outlets late last year, and found deficiencies around Star’s relationship with Asian junket promoters. These included 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.

RelatedPosts

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

Global debut of “Fortune Doors” among five Light & Wonder game families to be showcased at next week’s Australasian Gaming Expo

Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 13:16
Star to open AU$3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development on 29 August

Star’s Hong Kong partners officially terminate Queen’s Wharf Brisbane acquisition deal

Fri 1 Aug 2025 at 13:02
Hong Kong’s Far East Consortium reports first full year gaming revenue after Australian, European acquisitions

Star says deal now “unlikely” to offload Queen’s Wharf Brisbane assets to Hong Kong partners

Wed 30 Jul 2025 at 13:53
AUSTRAC launches Federal Court action against clubs giant Mounties for alleged serious and systemic non-compliance with AML laws

AUSTRAC launches Federal Court action against clubs giant Mounties for alleged serious and systemic non-compliance with AML laws

Wed 30 Jul 2025 at 12:55
Load More
Tags: Adam BellAustraliacasino licenseindependent monitorinquiryStar Entertainment GroupThe Star (Sydney)unsuitable
Share20Share4
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 – Better late than never

Editorial – Better late than never

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:13

Inside Asian Gaming has in recent weeks been hearing increasing chatter around a possible move by Vietnamese authorities to introduce...

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:08

Yasushi Shigeta, Chairman and owner of one of the world’s largest gaming industry suppliers, Angel Group, sits down with Inside...

The Magic Number

The Magic Number

by David Bonnet
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 06:41

In this in-depth deep dive into the evolution of the Asian gaming landscape, David Bonnet argues that many regional jurisdictions...

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 02:45

Rashid Suliman, Vice President of Global Gaming Asia-Pacific for casino solutions provider TransAct Technologies, provides some insight into his unique...

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

Related Posts

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

Global debut of “Fortune Doors” among five Light & Wonder game families to be showcased at next week’s Australasian Gaming Expo

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 13:16

Global gaming giant Light & Wonder will debut its latest game family, Fortune Doors, at next week’s Australasian Gaming Expo in Sydney – one of five game families offering 14 unique themes between them to feature at the company’s stand....

Experts claim 90% of Macau money exchange gangs eradicated since passing of illegal gaming law

Morgan Stanley says Macau now a growth market, raising 2025 GGR and EBITDA forecasts after two consecutive monthly beats

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 11:48

Investment bank Morgan Stanley has raised its Macau GGR and EBITDA growth forecasts for 2025, and operator price targets by 30% across the board, following two consecutive monthly beats in June and July. In a Monday note, Morgan Stanley analysts...

Hann Resorts founder Dae Sik Han says IPO essential to ensure no delays to Clark expansion plans

Hann Resorts founder Dae Sik Han says IPO essential to ensure no delays to Clark expansion plans

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 06:02

The Chairman and CEO of Hann Philippines Inc, Dae Sik Han, has revealed he opted to proceed with an initial public offering on the Philippine Stock Exchange to ensure his ambitious expansion plans could proceed without delay. Hann, the parent...

Philippine government insists President Marcos won’t “act in haste” on calls to ban online gaming

Philippine government insists President Marcos won’t “act in haste” on calls to ban online gaming

by Newsdesk
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 05:55

The Presidential Palace has insisted that President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr will not act in haste in assessing whether or not ban the Philippines’ online gaming – also known as remote gaming or eGames – industry. The comments from Palace...

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

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
  • 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.

  • English