The hits keep coming for embattled Star Entertainment Group after The Star Brisbane announced Wednesday that it would postpone a major poker tournament series that was scheduled to begin this week due to anticipated industrial action by staff.
In an announcement posted online, the company said it had decided to postpone the 2025 Brisbane Champs – which was to comprise 18 events across 12 days – following “potential ongoing Protected Industrial Action in Brisbane, which could impact operations over the coming period”.
As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, some staff, including those working on the gaming floor, in restaurants and bars and in housekeeping at The Star Brisbane, took strike action between 4pm and 6pm last Friday in response to ongoing negotiations over a new pay deal. Star is said to have offered a 4% pay rise per year over the next three years but with reduced penalty rates on Sundays.
In announcing the postponement of the 2025 Brisbane Champs, Star said, “delivering a world-class player experience is our top priority. Due to the potential disruption from industrial action, and in the interest of maintaining the high standards our players expect and deserve, we have made the difficult decision to delay the event.”
Star said it would issue a cash payout to players who had already secured a seat in the Main Event via satellite in lieu of their entry, and refunds to those who had booked on-site hotel accommodation for the series.
New dates would be announced soon, the company added.
Star, which has been looking to offload The Star Brisbane to its Hong Kong partners Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium pending the result of ongoing negotiations, runs World Poker Tour events at its Sydney and Gold Coast casinos and a WSOP Circuit series at The Star Sydney each November.
