Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentimanhas confirmed the state’s gaming regulator,the police and Austrac are investigating allegations relating to Star,which has casinos in Sydney,Brisbane and the Gold Coast,saying allegations about the casino ignoring risk warnings were “very serious”.
In Victoria,the Andrews government has been handed a scathing confidential report into the regulation of Melbourne casino Crown,saying the state had for years failed to adequately oversee Crown’s operations,creating serious risks of criminal infiltration.
Two government sources who are not authorised to speak publicly have said an independent investigator in Victoria,Dr Ian Freckelton,QC,has made findings about the longstanding failure of the state’s Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation to investigate wrongdoing at Crown,including cases of money laundering and the risks posed by overseas high rollers.
The revelations about Star Entertainment byThe Age,The Sydney Morning Herald and60 Minutes havewiped more than 23 per cent,or $1 billion,off its market value in two days,despite an ASX announcement on Monday morning claiming the reports were “misleading”.
The reports said The Star had ignored multiple red flags raised by the gambling of Mr Trajkoski,an accused drug importer. The police documents reveal that law enforcement authorities held deep concerns about Mr Trajkoski’s activity at The Star over a decade.
“Physical surveillance has confirmed Trajkoski works minimal hours and spends the majority of his spare time gambling. Trajkoski is currently a ‘Diamond member’ of the Sovereign Room (high rollers) at The Star Casino,Sydney[where] ... Trajkoski has ‘wagered’ a total of $166 million” since 2007,the court documents allege.