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Gambling

This Month

Star’s hiring spree defies financial sense.

Teetering Star Entertainment’s hiring drive beggars belief

For a company on the brink of financial collapse, the casino operator seems keen to increase its wages bill.

  • Hannah Wootton
Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.

Chalmers, Labor leave bookmaking giant in the cold

The lobbyists for Sportsbet keep getting blackballed from Labor minister cash-for-access events.

  • Mark Di Stefano

January

The AFL wants a bigger slice of money from fans who bet on match results, player disposals and goals.

$40m not enough: The AFL’s plan to grab more gambling money

The sport’s administrators make up to $40 million from wagering deals every year. It is hoping to significantly increase that by negotiating a new agreement.

  • Zoe Samios
Queen’s Wharf is Star’s newest casino, but one that has left the company facing high debts.

Heavyweight Star investors land in Brisbane as casino teeters on brink

The company said it was “no certainty” it would be able to raise any more money to avert collapse as it discusses its options with major shareholders.

  • Updated
  • Zoe Samios and Anthony Macdonald
Anthony Albanese and Peter V’landys inside the NRL chairman’s suite at the first State of Origin game last year..

PM speed-dated TV, sports bosses before U-turn on gambling ad ban

In a 95-minute period on August 30, Anthony Albanese spoke with the country’s major sporting and TV bosses about his draft gambling ad policy.

  • Ronald Mizen
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Star’s bid for a tax relief has been brushed off by NSW and Queensland.

NSW and Qld unmoved by Star’s renewed plea for tax relief

NSW Premier Chris Minns was emphatic the government would not offer respite to the struggling gaming company whose casinos are ailing.

  • James Hall and Primrose Riordan
While most big investors have been trying to offload their Star holdings, the mystery man has been buying up.

On the trail of Star Entertainment’s mystery Macau shareholder

Who is Xingchun Wang, and what does he want with the ailing operator of casinos in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast that is teetering on the brink of collapse?

  • Zoe Samios, Amelia McGuire, James Hall, Primrose Riordan and Jessica Sier
Tourists at Star Entertainment’s Brisbane development. The company may have to sell a stake in the precinct to stave off collapse.

Mystery Macau businessman emerges as major Star Entertainment investor

The struggling casino operator could fall into administration within months. New disclosures show Xingchun Wang has been accumulating shares since September.

  • Jessica Sier
Peter Webb, founder of Bet Angel.

‘I made millions from sports betting, without ever backing a winner’

By carefully analysing reams of data and taking advantage of changing odds, Peter Webb has made a tidy sum since the easing of online gambling regulations in the UK.

  • Mattie Brignal

December 2024

Ishar Gill, left, his father Jaspal Singh, centre and his sister Jaspeet Gill right, look over the enlarged image of a cheque that will be presented to the winner of the $US1.22 billion Mega Millions Lotto ticket that was purchased at their family’s store in Cottonwood, California.

Someone just won $2b in a lottery, what should they do now?

Experts say the winner of the Mega Millions prize should build relationships with a wealth adviser, a tax accountant, an estate attorney and a therapist.

  • María Paula Mijares Torres
Annette Kimmitt is leaving the Victorian gaming regulator.

Victorian gaming regulator Annette Kimmitt quits

The former MinterEllison chief executive joined the Victorian gaming regulator when it was given more power to penalise misconduct.

  • Zoe Samios

November 2024

Punters will be forced to register themselves if they want to play the pokies in Victoria.

$100 pokie limits in Victorian crackdown

Player cards will be introduced across all gaming machines in the state, bringing pubs and clubs in line with restrictions at Melbourne’s Crown casino.

  • Zoe Samios
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.

‘Vested interests’ frustrate gambling ad reforms

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland is facing growing frustration, including from within her own party, over the shelving of plans to restrict gambling advertising.

  • Max Mason
Laurence Escalante built Virtual Gaming Worlds into a multibillion-dollar business.

Laurence Escalante’s VGW bulks up exec ranks as casinos bristle

Virtual Gaming Worlds was one of the early beneficiaries of a US legislative loophole in states where gambling is otherwise banned. It’s now under attack.

  • Primrose Riordan and Zoe Samios
Crown Melbourne has been affected by new restrictions that have driven away some of the company’s high-rolling gamblers.

Blackstone builds Crown Resorts debt bomb as casino profits slide

The private equity giant says it’s comfortable with the big loan it took to buy the casino operator, despite the interest bill and an earnings crunch.

  • Updated
  • Zoe Samios and Amelia McGuire
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Peter V’landys is not a fan of “nanny state ideology”.

V’landys slams gambling probe, claims NRL betting is least damaging

Peter V’landys doubled down on past claims racing and sports betting are less harmful than lotteries and slammed all 31 recommendations of the parliamentary inquiry.

  • Ronald Mizen

October 2024

Gambling lobbying reveals risk to our democracy

Readers’ letters on gambling advertising reform, Australia’s role in the Pacific, nuclear energy and politicians receiving perks from Qantas.

Better days: Jon Adgemis (left) with Guy Grossi outside the Clifton Hotel at Melbourne’s Kew Junction.

Celebrated chef Guy Grossi distances himself from Jon Adgemis

His company could join other parties that the Public Hospitality Group boss once worked with that have already walked away.

  • Primrose Riordan
Anthony Albanese and Peter V’landys inside the NRL chairman’s suite at the first State of Origin game last year..

NRL, AFL personally lobbied Anthony Albanese against gambling ad ban

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NRL chairman Peter V’landys have been singing from the same songbook when it comes to gambling advertising. New details suggest why.

  • Ronald Mizen
Busby’s at Oxford House in Sydney. It is one of the Public Hospitality Group venues that has gone into receivership.

Jon Adgemis says funds moved from pub group was at lenders’ behest

The administrator of a collapsed portion of the pubs and hotels empire had alleged $9 million was transferred over a year as the company began to collapse.

  • Primrose Riordan

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/gambling-5xm