The Attorney-General of Queensland has urged anyone concerned about Star Entertainment to refer them to an investigation after a number of media reports linked a major shareholder of the Australian gambling giant’s Brisbane casino development with figures from Chinese criminal organisations.
As Casino Guardian already revealed, the company has been under intense scrutiny after facing some allegations of links to organised crime and allowing money laundering in a recent New South Wales (NSW) inquiry into its casino in Sydney. On the other hand, the Australian gambling giant is facing a separate inquiry in Queensland into its suitability to retain its casino licence in the state. A hearing of witnesses is set to take place on August 23rd as part of the probe.
According to media reports, Chow Tai Fook, a Hong Kong-based firm that received the approval of the state Government to take a stake in the development of Brisbane’s AU$3.6-billion Queens Wharf of Star Entertainment, has been linked to criminal organisations in China.
Now, Queensland’s Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman has noted that any allegations involving the gambling and casino company or its associates should become subject to the investigation, which is headed by Court of Appeal Judge Robert Gotterson. Ms Fentiman further shared that the competent authorities remain committed to making sure that Queensland casinos operate in line with the law in a way that maintains the sector’s integrity and public confidence. She urged anyone who might have any concerns regarding Star Entertainment or its associates to refer them to the authorities’ independent investigation for further consideration.
Chow Tai Fook Got the Palaszczuk Government’s Approval Back in 2015
In a statement on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), the Australian gambling giant has explained that it does not consider it appropriate to comment at a time when public hearings are set to begin this week in connection with the ongoing review of the casino operations of Star Entertainment in Queensland.
Chow Tai Fook was officially approved by the Palaszczuk Government in 2015 for a stake in the casino and resort development at the Queens Wharf venue, which is expected to start operation in 2023. The company has links to the late Macau gambling mogul Stanley Ho and has been historically connected to Chinese criminal organisations. Henry Cheng, the chairman of Chow Tai Fook, has a history of a close business relationship with Stanley Ho, as he owns a 10% stake in SJM Holdings, a Macau-based business endeavour of Ho.
Mr Ho, who passed away in 2020, was known as one of the founds of gambling in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macau and faced allegations of being closely linked to organised crime for decades.
According to reports, the Hong Kong-based firm has been aware of the potential concerns and had removed some individuals from its formal offer for the Queens Wharf property amid concerns that they would not be able to pass the suitability test under the provisions of the Casino Control Act. Currently, Chow Tai Fook holds a 25% stake in the Queens Wharf casino and 50% of the surrounding apartment towers.
- Author
Daniel Williams
