Gov warned against ‘secret deal’ to help embattled Star casino

The state government has softened its support for Star Entertainment Group amid a warning from the opposition against striking a “secret deal” to keep the embattled casino giant alive.

Generic – File – Queens Wharf Brisbane, Star Casino. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The state government has softened its support for Star Entertainment Group amid a warning from the opposition against striking a “secret deal” to keep the embattled casino giant alive.

Star on Monday revealed there was “no certainty” it could improve its financial position, noting revenue was down 15 per cent to $299m in the December quarter.

Star chief executive Steve McCann has called for the Queensland and New South Wales governments to provide a temporary pause on the payment of gaming taxes to help the company trade its way out of trouble.

Premier David Crisafulli on Sunday, in response to Mr McCann’s comment, said the government would “consider any requests that come forward”.

However, Treasurer David Janetzki on Monday declined to say publicly whether the government was considering a pause on gaming taxes to help the company.

His office also declined to reveal how the state would deliver on its promise to protect workers.

Skydeck at The Star Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Opposition Leader Steven Miles criticised the government’s mixed-message and warned Mr Crisafulli against using commercial-in-confidence grounds to strike a “secret deal” with Star.

“I know there will be great scepticism among Queenslanders for a government that wants to use their money to prop up a company that obviously, over a number of years, was very poorly managed,” he said.

“We want to see those workers keep their jobs, we want to see them have job security, we want to see that tourism asset open and realised to their full potential.

“But I think Queenslanders will want to see their funds, their dollars spent on schools and hospitals and housing before it’s spent propping up a struggling casino company.”

Mr Miles denied his government considered offering a subsidy or funding to keep Star afloat.

The opposition leader said 6000 Queenslanders needed to be the government’s focus.

“If they’ve decided that the only way they can protect those jobs and keep those assets open is with the taxpayer subsidy, that they should be very upfront with Queenslanders about what information they have based that decision on, as well as what deal they have taken.

“I don’t think there’s any room here for this to be commercial-in-confidence or a secret deal.”

There are concerns heritage-listed buildings at Queen’s Wharf could remain closed and refurbishments halted if Star Entertainment Group collapses and construction work stops.

A Star spokeswoman said planned restoration works were ongoing within the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct.

Australian National University research published last month found just 2.7 per cent of people played casino table games in 2024.

In comparison, 46.8 per cent of Australians purchased a lottery ticket, 23.4 per cent a raffle ticket and 15.7 per cent who bought a scratchie.

Casino tables was the second-least popular form of gambling in 2024, the ANU research found, ahead of only bingo.

Griffith University Deputy Head of Marketing Marie-Louise Fry said the gambling market had shifted.

“I suspect what is actually happening is there’s been a shift with a lot of online betting, via your phone, there’s been a shift from physically going to gamble,” she said.

“Gambling participation has declined a little bit, around 5 per cent or so … but maybe it’s the market share of how people gamble.”

However, Dr Fry tipped casinos would continue to have a place in society.