August 29th marked the official opening of the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane (QWB) destination, which also houses the newest casino establishment of The Star Entertainment Group. The Star Brisbane was supposed to open last year, but regulatory struggles resulted in a delay of 12 months. As reported by the North West Star, operations will now proceed under the supervision of Queensland’s gambling regulator, and the company will continue its remediation efforts.
The Star was fined AU$140,000 in 2023 after the regulators of Queensland identified significant failings regarding the company’s policies surrounding gambling harm minimisation. Namely, the casino allowed patrons to wager with credit cards, a practice that is prohibited in Queensland. The financial penalty was the latest blow to The Star’s conduct and financials at the time, as the previous year, Queensland authorities had handed The Star a fine of AU$100 million for anti-money-laundering breaches.
During Thursday’s grand opening, Daniel Finch, The Star Brisbane’s CEO, assured that the company has improved its anti-money laundering policies and that measures have been taken to provide clients with a safer gambling experience. “We have an enormous team now. We have protocols in place and we are well and truly on our way to suitability,” he added.
The Star’s New South Wales business is currently awaiting the results of the NICC’s 2024 inquiry into the company’s licensing eligibility. Known as the Bell Two, the report was submitted to NICC’s Chief Commissioner on July 31st and it is set to determine whether The Star can be deemed suitable to be in the possession of a NSW casino licence.
The Star Brisbane Partner CTFE Accused of Being Linked to Organised Crime
Queen’s Wharf Brisbane’s inauguration was marred by controversy surrounding one of The Star Brisbane’s major partner, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE). According to ABC News, allegations surrounding CTFE’s past ties to organised crime figures such as Wan Kuok Koi were at the core of the problem.
Years prior, an investigation by ABC News prompted local authorities to launch a 16-month probe into CTFE’s conduct. The ruling was announced in May 2024, and according to Queensland’s Attorney-General, “insufficient evidence” of concrete misconduct or intentional association with criminals led regulators to deem CTFE a suitable partner to The Star.
Charles Livingstone, gambling expert and associate professor at Monash University, told ABC News that he could not fathom other states taking this course of action. He argued that associations of this nature “have a way of growing rapidly into full-blown corruption, money laundering and scandal.” Mr Livingstone continued, claiming that even if current operations are not linked to organised crime, such a business relationship “could generate rapidly.”
ABC News also highlighted CTFE’s past partnership with a Vietnamese casino named Hoiana, which used to be owned by Alvin Chau. Chau was arrested in 2021 after he was found guilty of fraud and illegal gambling, and CTFE maintained associations with Chau until his arrest. However, during May 2024’s hearing, Queensland’s Attorney-General ruled CTFE was not proven to have been aware of Chau’s legal issues. A New South Wales inquiry conducted in 2021 had determined the opposite in 2021, however.
The Queensland government’s decision was heavily criticised by Tim Costello, Chief Advocate of Australia’s Alliance for Gambling Reform. He described CTFE’s approval as illogical and “utterly laughable.”
- Author
Daniel Williams
