Inquiry reveals operator enabled money laundering, organised crime, fraud and foreign interference
The New South Wales gaming regulator’s inquiry has examined claims that Star Entertainment’s Sydney gambling venue the Star Casino, property of the Australia ASX-listed company, enabled suspected money laundering, organised crime, fraud and foreign interference at the Sydney casino, as part of assessing whether the venue should retain its casino licence.
The 36-day inquiry was told notorious gang-linked to junket operator Suncity ran an illegal cashier point at the casino, where gambling laws were flouted by the use of Chinese debit cards, and that staff lied to banks and did not comply in their dealings with NSW gaming regulators, adding that there was evidence of coercion to stop the public hearings taking place.
Naomi Sharp SC, inquiry counsel, said in her closing submissions on Tuesday May 31st: “We submit that the evidence in the public hearing establishes that the Star is not suitable to hold the casino licence and that its close associate Star Entertainment is not suitable either”.
She urged Adam Bell SC, who is heading the inquiry, to adopt the approach set out in the Finkelstein review of rival Crown Resorts that if “most norms” are infringed then a company’s “journey is at its end”. Sharp outlined 26 areas she would address in her closing argument, describing Star Sydney’s casino licence as a privilege that conferred on the venue the ability to earn “very substantial revenue”.
In an incisive rebuke about Star Casino’s licensing suitability, Sharp said Star and its Sydney casino were only at the start of their examination of “what has gone wrong within these organisations. There has not yet been the period of deep reflection which of course will be necessary in order to develop a concrete plan about what can bring these corporations into a position of suitability”.
