Australia’s Star Entertainment Group has been fined AU$140,000 (US$92,000) by the Queensland regulator for accepting credit card deposits and for distributing promotional material to players who were excluded from its casinos in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
According to details tendered by Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath, The Star Entertainment QLD Limited entered a guilty plea with the Magistrates Court in March in relation to 11 offences, after which it was ordered to pay a fine of AU$140,000 and court costs of AU$3,250 (US$2,140).
Seven of the charges relate to accepting credit wagers of more than AU$170,000 (US$112,000) between 2017 and 2022. Specifically, a lack of adequate controls in relation to the EFTPOS machines meant customers could use their credit card to deposit significant amounts of money into their casino account, potentially allowing customers to gamble beyond their means.
The other four charges relate to The Star distributing promotional or advertising material about the casino in February 2022 to people they knew or should have known were excluded or banned from entering the casino.
The court heard that The Star had been warned by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) a number of times about similar conduct in the past.
“Allowing credit betting and distributing promotional material to excluded persons are not acceptable ways for casinos to operate in Queensland,” said D’Ath.
“The authority to operate a casino is a privilege. In return, the community expects The Star, at an absolute minimum, to effectively control risks, such as gambling harm and money laundering.
“Ensuring public confidence in our casinos is a priority. That’s why we will continue to strengthen and enforce our casino laws.
“The regulator is closely monitoring all casinos operating in Queensland and will take action if they fall short of their requirements.”
This latest court ruling comes after Star was fined AU$100 million (US$66 million) by the Queensland government in December in response to the findings of the Gotterson review into the Queensland operations of The Star Entertainment Group.
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