Criminal bikies banned from The Star casino by NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione

EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds of bikies who attempted to extort, rob, launder money, deal drugs or simply misbehave at The Star are being excluded from the venue.

HUNDREDS of bikies who have attempted to extort, rob, launder money, deal drugs or simply misbehave at Sydney's The Star casino are being excluded from the venue under all-encompassing powers enforced by the NSW police commissioner.

Already 141 Rebel bikies and associates have been issued with exclusion orders this year by officers from the Casino and Racing Investigation Unit. Other gangs - including Brothers 4 Life - are expected to be targeted as part of the crackdown on criminal activity.

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"And we have another 90 bikies from the Finks, Hells Angels and Comanchero about to be excluded and there will be more,'' unit boss Detective Inspector Wayne Walpole said. ''The number will be in the hundreds when we finish with them.''

They have become a target for the squad to stamp out any attempt to intimidate patrons at the Pyrmont venue. "There has been the odd instance of 30 or 40 bikies from opposing clubs congregating at the casino,'' he said.

Sydney's The Star casino is off limits for bikies.

"It's intimidating for patrons and staff and we are going to make sure people feel safe to go to the casino precinct, which has restaurants and theatres as well, not just gambling.''

Insp Walpole said he viewed bikies as opportunistic thugs who preyed on anyone. "If they see some one win a few thousand dollars they will have them followed and robbed,'' he said.

He said casinos traditionally attracted criminal elements because of the amount of money circulating and the opportunity to launder money. ''They don't come in wearing colours, but they wear T-shirts and jewellery with club insignias,'' Inspector Walpole said. ''Or the really smart ones have the name of their club tattooed around their neck making it pretty easy to identify.''

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He also said their behaviour was a dead giveaway - they only ever came in packs, never alone.

Many of the exclusion orders are handed to the bikies by Strike Force Raptor, a special squad of police within the NSW gangs squad who specialise in disrupting outlaw motorcycle gang crime.

The unit has intelligence preparing briefs or "packages'' of information which are handed to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione to make a determination about excluding a bikie.

"It is a very powerful piece of legislation and we prepare a dossier on those we believe should be excluded before we make any move.'' Insp Walpole said.

"It's not used lightly."

Bikies have been giving their marching orders from The Star.

Police around Australia are now exchanging the names of bikies excluded from casinos. "We pass on the names to other police forces and they do the same,'' said Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas.

It's known bikies have used casinos to meet interstate chapters.

An exclusion order given by the Casino Control Authority or by the commissioner of police in any state cannot be challenged.

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It cannot be reviewed, quashed or called into question on any grounds before any court or tribunal in any legal proceedings, or restrained, removed or otherwise affected by proceedings in the nature of prohibition or mandamus.

A Star spokesman said its investigators worked closely with the NSW police to stop undesirable people entering the precinct to ensure patrons had a safe and enjoyable time. "The Star has worked hard to work co-operatively with the police to ensure it is a safe and enjoyable environment for patrons,'' he said.