The ban was issued by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority NSW (ILGA). The regulator found that a female gaming attendant, who admitted to having gambling issues, placed 28 bets on a gambling app while on shift. An off-duty male games dealer, meanwhile, was caught disposing of illicit drugs in a public area of the casino.
The female member of staff, who worked at the casino for 11 years, admitted to placing bets on her phone during work hours in January and February this year. Meanwhile, the male dealer was caught on CCTV throwing a bag of white powder over the railing behind him on the City View Balcony area of the casino. Security found the bag in a public area within the casino’s boundaries.
The individual did not disclose where the powder came from, but told the casino that he found it in his pocket and wanted to dispose of it. He attended court earlier this year and was charged with possessing a prohibited drug. The ILGA banning order prevents the individuals from working at or entering a casino, while both workers were also sacked by Star.
In addition, the regulator is working with the NSW Police Casino and Racing Unit in relation to the matters. “A casino special employee is a licensee engaged to supervise and facilitate gaming activities,” ILGA chair Philip Crawford said. “These people help safeguard the integrity of casino operations from criminal influence, serious misconduct or exploitation and a special degree of trust is placed in them.”
The banning orders come after Star Entertainment last week announced that it is to increase activities at its properties in NSW and Queensland after the two states eased restrictions related to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The operator had been limited to the number of people it could permit to enter its Star Sydney property in NSW at one time, but as of 7 December, capacity at the casino has been increased from 1,800 to approximately 10,000.
