Star’s Brisbane casino operation will transfer from the 25-year-old Treasury Casino to the new Queen’s Wharf development (above) on its completion,expected next year.Credit:Star
Under Queensland casino laws,licences can be cancelled or suspended if the holder,casino lessee or operator is convicted of an offence,breaches conditions of the licence,or has associated people deemed not “not suitable” under the Casino Control Act.
Ms Fentiman,who has the power to call investigations into the suitability of licensees,described as “very serious” revelations byThe Sydney Morning Herald,The Age and60 Minutesthis week that Star had commissioned confidential reports warning that it was failing to properly combat the risk of organised criminals or terrorists exploiting its Queensland and NSW sites.
“The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation is undertaking appropriate investigations,along with the Queensland Police and[anti-money-laundering agency] Austrac,” she said in response to questions from this masthead.
“The investigation will consider the appropriateness and effectiveness of Star’s due diligence processes in relation to anti-money-laundering,and how Star approaches exclusions to ensure people are excluded from all properties where appropriate.”
Along with details of the confidential 2018 reports,other revelations included that punters banned from Crown Melbourne and The Star Sydney by the NSW and Victorian police commissioners because of their organised crime links had been permitted to gamble at The Star Gold Coast.
More than 25 per cent,or $1 billion,has beenwiped off Star’s market value in two days. In an ASX announcement on Monday,the company said the reports were “misleading”.