Embattled casino giant Star Entertainment has had the suspension of its Gold Coast casino licence deferred again.
The state government has made the call to further push back the suspension to September 30 2026, following independent advice from the company’s Special Manager, Nicholas Weeks.
The casino has been under the supervision of a Special Manager following damning inquiries with its licence due to be suspended on September 30 this year, following an earlier deferral.
The report by Mr Weeks found that The Star has made steady progress on its remediation efforts, but that the work had been slower than anticipated due to The Star’s financial woes and uncertainty about the company’s future.
The state government says putting the licence suspension off for another year will “provide The Star with the opportunity to continue to implement and embed key deliverables under its remediation plan.”
Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Jarrod Bleijie said the Crisafulli Government had set clear expectations for The Star.
“The Crisafulli Government has the highest standards when it comes to the integrity of casino operations in Queensland,” Mr Bleijie said.
“We will continue to closely monitor The Star’s remediation progress to ensure key milestones are met. This deferral does not prevent us from taking immediate action should The Star fail to meet its remediation obligations.”
In a statement to the ASX, Star Entertainment CEO Steve McCann acknowledged there was more work to do.
“But we are pleased the Special Manager has recognised the steady progress on The Star’s remediation efforts, including those measures identified as key priorities,” Mr McCann said.
“The Star is committed to continuing its transparent and constructive relationship with the Special Manager and External Advisor, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Queensland and the Queensland Government, and demonstrating to all its stakeholders its suitability as a licence holder as soon as possible.”
