Another damning report into Star Entertainment has found the gambling giant is unsuitable to hold casino licences in Queensland.
Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman has released the results of an independent report, headed by Justice Robert Gotterson KC, looking into the actions of The Star at its casinos on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.
According to Ms Fentiman, the 170-page report found “the actions of the Star have left open the possibility of the finding of unsuitability”.
“I have formed the view that The Star is unsuitable to hold a casino licence in Queensland,” she said.
“I have asked the Office of Liquor and Gaming to begin preparing show cause materials to issue The Star with a show cause notice.”
Ms Fentiman said she was shocked by the findings.
“The Star embarked on a program of literally having a one-eyed focus on profit,” she said.
“Not being truthful with the regulator, not taking their responsibilities around gambling harm and money laundering as seriously as they should.
“Pretty alarming, damning findings.”
A total of 12 recommendations were made as part of the report, with the government supporting all of them “in principle”.
“The recommendations go to a range of issues including strengthening the Casino Control Act and increasing gambling harm minimisation measures,” Ms Fentiman added.
Some of the recommendations include appointing a Special Manager to increase supervision and integrity of operations, a mandatory Code of Conduct for Safer Gambling with significant fines for non-compliance and a number of recommendations to improve gambling harm minimisation, including mandatory carded play and limits on cash transactions.
It remains unclear what penalties The Star may face in the future, with the Attorney-General confirming there will be a lengthy show-cause process.
“The Star does, under the legislation, have an opportunity to put forward a case about what should happen next,” she said.
“I don’t want to pre-empt that but it is open to government to cancel their license, to suspend their license.”
The show cause process is understood to be 21 days long.
