Star Entertainment has added to a lengthy list of troubles during recent months after pleading guilty to selling chips illegally at the group’s pair of Queensland-based properties.
As confirmed by Attorney General Shannon Fentiman, the company, which operates Brisbane’s Treasury Casino and the Star Gold Coast, has pleaded guilty to seven charges under the Casino Control Act 1982.
This, said Fentiman, who is also Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, relates to Section 66 of the Act which prohibits the purchase of gambling chips with a credit card.
The offences were said to have occurred between June 2, 2017, and December 29, 2018, and between March 23, 2022, and April 2, 2022. Sentencing is aside for 2 June 2023.
“The Queensland Government is committed to ensuring Queensland casinos are operated lawfully, ethically and in a way that maintains the highest standards of integrity and public confidence,” it was noted.
Last month, Star Entertainment witnessed plummeting finances during the six months ending December 31, 2022, as the cost of a series of regulatory reviews weighed heavy on the company.
After being found unsuitable to hold a casino licence in New South Wales and Queensland, Star was subsequently hit with a pair of A$100m penalty packages as well as further remediation orders.
Furthermore, the operator is also the subject of enforcement action from Australia’s financial watchdog AUSTRAC, and currently counts four class action lawsuits being levelled against the group.
