The upcoming hearings are part of a comprehensive review conducted by Adam Bell SC under the ILGA’s appointment. This review, initiated four weeks ago, aims to assess The Star’s adherence to the Casino Control Act 1992, the Casino Control Regulation 2019, and its compliance with licensing and legal agreements with the NSW Authority.
The investigation will specifically focus on The Star’s involvement with junket operators, as highlighted during the Bergin Inquiry in August 2020. The Star had stated its ongoing collaboration with these operators, which prompted considerable scrutiny during the inquiry into Crown Resorts. The ILGA intends to examine The Star’s anti-money laundering and anti-organized crime measures during the forthcoming public hearings, scheduled for March 2022. A detailed report summarizing the findings will be published by the ILGA no later than June 30, 2022.
Prior to this review, The Star’s practices were last assessed in 2016 by Jonathan Horton QC. In May, The Star proposed a merger with Crown Resorts, which would create a combined business operation worth Aus$12.00bn (£6.71bn/€7.76bn/US$9.43bn). However, this proposal faced competition from private equity group Blackstone, who submitted a bid of Aus$8.02bn (£4.47bn/€5.21bn/US$6.19bn). In February, a New South Wales Casino inquiry uncovered evidence of money laundering and criminal activities within Crown Resorts.
Recently, The Star repudiated allegations of disregarding a report from KPMG, which focused on combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The Star vehemently denied media claims of involvement in money laundering, categorizing them as misleading.
