Star ‘unsuitable’ for Queensland licence

Following all the problems the casino operators have faced in New South Wales, the adjoining Australian state of Queensland has now declared that Star Entertainment is “unsuitable” to hold a gambling licence.

An inquiry found that the company had concealed illegal Chinese wagering payments and lured problem gamblers from other states.

Both Star and its competitor, Crown Resorts, have been battered by damaging regulatory inquiries into their activities over the past two years. Now Crown has been bought by venture capital company Blackstone and has set about reorganising its business.

Meanwhile, Crown holds on to its licences in Sydney and Melbourne, but Star, with a casino in Sydney and the popular Brisbane casino in Queensland, is under the spotlight.

The company has set about an A$3.6bn (US$2.3bn) redevelopment of the Brisbane location that will open next year.

Following the condemnation by the Queensland inquiry report, the company could now lose its licence to operate in the state. The company has said that it will consider its position and would co-operate with the gambling regulator.