Star Entertainment now in a fight to keep QLD gaming licence
The problems keep mounting for Star Entertainment, which is now expected to be issued with a show cause notice over its casino licences in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
An inquiry into Star is being led by retired Court of Appeal judge Bob Gotterson, who will release his final report on Thursday.
Star has come under the spotlight for breaches including money laundering at its Queensland operations.
Gotterson’s report will likely mirror the findings of the NSW inquiry into Star which found the entertainment giant was “unsuitable” to hold a Sydney casino licence. He will brief Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman on the “ongoing suitability” of Star to hold a casino licence in Queensland.
Star must now fight to retain its gaming licence and its gaming operations moving forward are likely to be overseen by a “special manager” to keep it in line before it opens the $3.6 billion Queens Wharf casino resort in Brisbane’s CBD next year.
The report will suggest that current casino policing laws are outdated and need to be overhauled and will recommend that a provision for compensation for Star if affected by changes to regulations be scrapped.
He has also proposed controls for gamblers and mandatory pre-commitment rules on those playing poker machines.
Identity-linked gambling cards and a $1000 limit for cash transactions could also be on the table.
All proposals are designed to help problem gamblers as well as stop illegal activity.
AHD - 6-10-22
