Gambling giant Star fined $100m after review into shady Qld business practices

Gambling giant Star Entertainment has been issued a $100m fine and given 12 months to “get its house in order”.

Gambling giant Star Entertainment has been issued a $100m fine and given 12 months to “get its house in order” by the Queensland Government.

The punishment comes after a review into Star Entertainment, handed down in October, led authorities to declare the company was unsuitable to hold a licence in Queensland.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the large fine, the threat of a 90-day suspension should Star not come back to suitability in 12 months, and a government-appointed manager should be a big wake-up call to the company.

“This is a very strong message that criminal behaviour, that unlawful behaviour, that one eyed focus on profit above their corporate social responsibility will not be tolerated in Queensland,” she said.

Star Entertainment entered a trading halt on the ASX earlier on Friday, requesting it ahead of expected “disciplinary action”.

The new Queens Wharf development which will also house the Star Casino. Picture: David Clark

Asked why it had taken so many years for Star’s activities to go unchecked Ms Fentiman accused the company of “lying” to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation over its practices, but said the deferment of a suspension would give Star an “opportunity to remediate its management”.

“These disciplinary actions of course, aim to strike a balance between ensuring that thousands of Queenslanders can remain employed, but also sending that very strong message that what happened here in Star casinos is completely unacceptable,” she said.

“Like many Queenslanders, I was appalled at the extent of the actions of The Star in welcoming excluded persons to their casinos and the exorbitant incentives on offer for questionable gamblers.”

During an inquiry into Star’s operations earlier this year it was revealed the casino had lured high rollers banned from southern casinos for suspected links to criminal activities to instead gamble in Queensland.

One was given a $50,000 watch as well as free flights and luxury accommodation.

Ms Fentiman said the casino had been “profit-driven”.

Former NRL chief operating officer Nicholas Weeks has been appointed the casino’s special manger, after recently also being appointed by the Independent Casino Commission to oversee The Star’s operations in New South Wales.

“Having a special manager that monitors the operations of The Star in both states will ensure they will be looked at as one operating entity and provide consistency across jurisdictions,” Ms Fentiman said.