• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Friday 20 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

NSW casino regulator considering future of Sydney casino license after latest Bell Report finds Star still unsuitable

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Fri 30 Aug 2024 at 19:14
Star Entertainment Group falls to AU$95 million loss in FY20 but domestic gaming showing signs of recovery

The Star Sydney

50
SHARES
1.3k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The future of Star Entertainment Group’s Sydney casino license remains in limbo after the New South Wales casino regulator said it is “considering next steps” due to confirmation that a second inquiry into Star’s operations had found the company is still not suitable to run the casino at The Star Sydney.

The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) on Friday made public two of the three volumes of the Bell Report compiled by Adam Bell SC following a second inquiry into Star’s suitability, adding that it had also forwarded the contents of the report onto Star itself.

In response, Star entered into a trading halt to consider the report and its implications and postponed the release of its FY24 financial results, which had been due for publication on Friday morning.

In a statement, the NICC said the findings and recommendations contained within the second Bell Report – the first in 2022 having also recommended a finding of unsuitability – had validated the concerns that initially prompted it to call a second Inquiry.

However, it stopped short of determining any specific action against Star in the short term or of confirming whether or not Star would be allowed to remain operator of the Sydney casino.

“The Bell Report reveals a company that had not moved quickly enough to address the governance and cultural concerns raised in the first Bell Report,” said NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford.

“It has only very recently turned its attention to dealing with challenges that should have been prioritised earlier.

“The Bell Report notes that [recently appointed] Mr Steve McCann Group CEO, Ms Janelle Campbell Sydney CEO and Ms Jeannie Mok Group Chief Operating Officer, bring important experience and expertise to the process of engagement with regulators, remediation and cultural transformation which will be vital if the NICC decides that The Star should remain as the operator of The Star Casino.

“The level of transparency and cooperation has certainly improved since their appointments. However, the Bell Report underscores the NICC’s concerns that it was not receiving all of the facts from The Star at a time when we needed certainty the company could fund and prioritise an urgent business turnaround.

“The NICC is responsible for regulating an industry that is highly vulnerable to criminal infiltration and we are tasked with setting regulatory standards that meet the community’s expectations.

“It was unclear whether The Star could feasibly operate under less supervision, when it was exhibiting past behaviours with its licence still suspended.”

The NICC added that it is “contemplating Mr Bell’s findings … and will respond in due course.”

The Bell Report states that, based on evidence presented during the most recent inquiry, Star is “currently falling short of what is required from a suitable casino operator.”

Specifically it notes the lack of strong leadership in the period between the first and second inquiries into its suitability, including the absence of a dedicated CEO for The Star Sydney prior to the recent appointment of Ms Campbell.

While responsibility for The Star Sydney had been assumed by Star Entertainment Group, the fact that the wider group was distracted by “a number of ‘existential threats’ during the relevant period … [including] financial crises, legal actions by regulators, class actions and disputes and litigation in relation to the Queens Wharf Brisbane project” meant the Sydney property lacked effective governance.

The Bell Report describes Star’s executive leadership team during this period as “dysfunctional”, stating that “The Star Entities remain presently unsuitable to be concerned in or associated with the management and operation of The Star Casino.”

The recommendation that Star remain unsuitable follows a series of damning revelations emanating from the recent Bell inquiry – most notable being that CEO Robbie Cooke and Chairman David Foster – both since departed – had plotted to remove Special Manager Nick Weeks as well as lobbying to replace the regulator entirely.

The inquiry also revealed evidence that Star had falsified records in regard to welfare checks on customers seen gambling for more than three hours at a time, as required under current regulations.

Since the inquiry, Star has taken significant steps to address its internal issues – most notably by way of appointing Steve McCann, who played a key role in helping local rival Crown Resorts return to suitability in Sydney and Melbourne, as its new CEO and Managing Director.

Ironically, the term of Special Manager Weeks was recently extended for at least another six months until 31 March 2025.

In a Friday filing, Star said it is considering the Bell Report and the implications it may have for disclosures concerning its financial results for the year ended 30 June 2024.

It also said it intends to respond to “other matters raised” in media articles referring to its FY24 and its broader financial and liquidity position.

Tags: Adam BellAustraliaBell Reportcasino licenseNSW Independent Casino CommissionStar Entertainment GroupSteve McCannThe 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 – 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

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...

1xBet reviews DreamLeague Season 26 esports tournament results

1xBet reviews DreamLeague Season 26 esports tournament results

by Newsdesk
Thu 19 Jun 2025 at 12:50

From 19 May to 1 June , the prestigious Tier 1 Dota 2 tournament was held online, boasting a solid prize pool of US$1 million. It was also the last ESL event before the start of the 2025 Esports World...



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