Casinos
Exclusive
Gaming & wagering
A Rolex, private jet and chips: How Star courted John Khoury to gamble in Queensland
High-roller John Khoury was banned from casinos in Victoria and NSW, but says The Star was so desperate for him to gamble at its Gold Coast casino that it bought him a $50,000 watch and showered him with perks.
- by Nick McKenzie
Latest
Star should keep licence as key people to blame for failures have left: lawyer
Senior managers who have since resigned are responsible for the casino’s past failures and should not stop a renewed company from continuing to operate, its lawyer says.
- by Jack Gramenz
Accepting gambling repayments without checks increased money laundering risks, Star lawyer tells inquiry
About 500 third-party deposits totalling $70 million were made in four years without any checks completed on where those funds came from, barrister Kate Richardson, SC, said.
- by Lucy Cormack
Before and after: why Star’s lawyers say it wasn’t suitable for licence, but it is now
Star’s barrister Kate Richardson, SC, told a public inquiry evidence had exposed significant failings and inappropriate conduct by senior staff. However, she said the organisation had changed.
- by Lucy Cormack
Queensland government to review Star’s casino licence suitability
Ongoing investigations into the casino giant’s anti-money laundering and exclusion processes have been under way for at least eight months, amid a public inquiry in NSW.
- by Matt Dennien
Crown’s $8.9b takeover clears penultimate hurdle
A Barangaroo casino licence is the only remaining hurdle to Blackstone’s $8.9 billion takeover of Crown Resorts, and a multibillion dollar exit for James Packer.
- by Colin Kruger
Money laundering, exclusion processes at centre of Queensland casino probe
A Qld probe into Star Entertainment is focusing on claims of money laundering and processes around the exclusion of certain people, a parliamentary committee has heard.
- by Sean Parnell
Opinion
Opinion
Barangaroo casino’s opening won’t be Packer’s party
If, as anticipated, the $2.5 billion development receives the green light from the government to open the casino as early as Tuesday there will be a party but no Packer - jubilation but without James.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Crown advertises for gaming staff as it prepares for conditional licence at Barangaroo
Crown Resorts has started advertising for gaming staff in preparation for being handed a conditional licence.
- by Alexandra Smith and Colin Kruger
Star’s conduct could be criminal, lawyers tell casino inquiry
Star repeatedly breached the Casino Control Act and its preparedness to use fake documents to mislead banks could constitute a crime, lawyers leading a public inquiry have argued.
- by Lucy Cormack
Star board missed ‘alarm bells’ of Crown scandal, inquiry hears
A forensic accounting report said Star was willing to engage in “window dressing” to navigate potential regulatory and legal obstacles.
- by Lucy Cormack