Star Entertainment claims that is fit to hold a casino operating permit in Sydney, although some significant deficiencies and failings have been found at the property.
An independent review carried out by Commissioner Adam Bell SC has resulted in allegations of fraud, money laundering and criminal infiltration at the Australian gambling giant’s casino in Pyrmont. In their closing submissions issued on June 14th, the company’s lawyers noted that Star Entertainment accepted the failings and deficiencies that made it unsuitable to hold a casino licence in the past but also insisted that the circumstances had changed and the operator should be permitted to keep the controversial operating permit.
One of the company’s lawyers, Kate Richardson SC, said that the Australian gambling and casino operator accepted the findings and evidence of significant deficiencies and failures but further explained that the individuals who had engaged in the violations were no longer involved in the company’s business.
As Casino Guardian already reported, since the beginning of the inquiry, a number of high-profile executives have resigned from the gambling operator, including its CEO Matt Bekier, CFO Harry Theodore and CCO Greg Hawkins. According to the legal representative of Star Entertainment, it was highly relevant that these futures were no longer involved with the company’s business because the integrity, character and suitability of a corporate entity, in her opinion, are linked to the integrity and character of the people controlling the company’s affairs.
The company believes that the aforementioned departures set the standard of behaviour that is expected of all staff members of Star Entertainment, particularly of the company’s officials.
Queensland Government to Roll Out Probe into Star Entertainment’s Fitness to Operate Brisbane and Gold Coast Casinos
The admission of failures and deficiencies came on the same day when the Queensland Government unveiled an independent probe into the gambling company’s suitability to keep its casino licences in a number of locations across the state.
In the wake of the findings and evidence provided as a result of Commissioner Adam Bell SC’s review into the operations of Star Entertainment, the Government of Queensland decided to roll out an inquiry into the operator’s fitness to hold a casino licence in the state.
The probe into the Australian gambling giant’s suitability to hold a casino operating permit in Queensland was ordered by attorney general Shannon Fentiman following the aforementioned inquiry in New South Wales (NSW) heard allegations that Star Entertainment had been involved in criminal activity. On June 14th, Ms Fentiman issued a statement saying taht an independent expert review into The Star’s suitability to keep its casino licence would be held. She further shared that the terms of reference are set to be released after the cabinet takes the matter into consideration.
Previously, the state’s attorney general had decided not to order an inquiry into the Australian casino company that is currently building a flagship casino and resort in the central business district of Brisbane and operates 2 other casino venues in the city and the Gold Coast.
The beginning of the week saw Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk predict a possible investigation into Star Entertainment, which has already been subject to investigation for 8 months in the state of Queensland. The money-laundering controls of the Australian gambling giant in the state have been investigated by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation.
- Author
Olivia Cole
