Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JUN 2022年6月 亞博匯 16 STAR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SUSPENDS ALL REBATE PLAY PROGRAMS 星億集團暫停所有賭客稅務折扣計劃 AUSTRALIA’S STAR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP says it will suspend all domestic and international rebate play programs in the wake of issues raised during an ongoing review into The Star Sydney. The review, being conducted by Adam Bell SC, has seen a raft of issues raised around Star’s relationship with Asian junket promoters, including liberties granted to leading junket Suncity Group in operating its own VIP room at The Star Sydney and the illegal use of China Union Pay cards by Star to disguise gambling transactions. The company issued a notice in early May announcing it has immediately suspended rebate programs for both domestic and international players across all its casinos until further notice. The announcement also stated that Star had ceased all junket programs in October 2020, although it was only in May 2021 that the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) revealed it had reached an agreement with Star to no longer work with international junket operators. The Star will work with gaming regulators to address various identified risks as part of ongoing reviews of systems and processes,” it said. “The Star has also engaged external advisors and continues a significant program of work to further improve those systems and processes while cooperating fully with the Review.” The suspension of rebate programs came just days after three senior executives – Chief Financial Officer Harry Theodore, Chief Casino Officer (NSW) Greg Hawkins and Chief Legal & Risk Officer and Company Secretary Paula Martin – tendered their resignations in the wake of the findings. 澳洲星億集團 表示，The Star Sydney審查 期間發現問題後，將暫停州外和國外賭客的 「稅務折扣」計劃。 由Adam Bell SC進行的調查發現，星億 與亞洲博彩中介人之間存在大量問題，其中 包括太陽城集團在The Star Sydney被允許自 營賭廳及非法使用銀聯卡作偽裝賭博收入。 該公司於五月初發佈通告稱：「董事 會已決定立即暫停其所有賭場的國內和國際 賭客的稅務折扣計劃，直至另行通知。」並 稱，公司已經在2020年10月關閉所有中介 合作項目，但新州獨立酒類和博彩管理局 （ILGA）透露，直至2021年5月，該局才與 星億達成協議，不再與國際中介運營商合作。 該公司表示：「星億將繼續與博彩監管 機構在系統及流程審查上進行合作，解決各 種已識別的風險。同時星億還聘請了外部顧 問，繼續推進對系統及流程的改善，同時將 全面配合審查。」 就在該折扣計劃暫停數日前，該企三名 高管——首席財務官Harry Theodore、首席 博彩總監（新州）Greg Hawkins及首席法律 與風險官兼公司秘書Paula Martin，在調查結 果出來後提出辭呈。