Star Entertainment Group, the owner of the Star Sydney in New South Wales (NSW), could have something to worry about if an examination of its casino property turns up anything but pristine records. This is because the casino is due to be put under the looking glass by Adam Bell SC, the same lawyer who was instrumental in prosecuting Crown Resorts in NSW, following revelations that the casino operator was no longer suitable to hold a gaming license in the state.
This move is far from unexpected as the fall of Crown Resorts has placed Australia’s entire casino industry under scrutiny, setting financial and gaming regulators on the warpath.
The official entities have begun taking a particular interest in all casino operations across the country. The NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) has requested that Bell examine if The Star Sydney is compliant and whether it should keep its casino license.
Adam Bell was the lead counsel in NSW’s inquest into Crown and his efforts contributed greatly to the company’s demise in the state. The forthcoming investigation forms part of a periodic requirement that states that all casinos in NSW must be reviewed every five years.
NSW on board with findings
Crown’s forced exit from NSW was precipitated by recommendations that were included in the Bergin Report, named for Patricia Bergin, the former Supreme Court Judge who headed the inquiry. The state government went with all of the recommendations in the report, including removing Crown’s license and putting new regulatory oversight in place. This ready acceptance indicates that the NSW government is likely to welcome Bell’s final review.
The ILGA Chair, Philip Crawford said,
“These reviews are carried out with the co-operation of the casino operator to ensure the casino remains free from criminal influence or exploitation and doesn’t cause harm to the public interest.”
“Mr Bell was the lead senior counsel assisting the Bergin Inquiry into Crown Resorts’ Barangaroo casino and, as such, has extensive knowledge of casino regulatory matters in NSW including the issues of concern identified in the Bergin Report. This experience provides Mr Bell with a deep understanding of the current casino landscape which will be invaluable for this role,” he added.
The Australian financial watchdog, AUSTRAC (the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre), has advised that Crown is far from the only casino operator operating beyond regulatory boundaries. With this in mind, Bell has a substantial starting position to proceed from. The Star Sydney inquiry is expected to take up significantly less time than that of Crown’s and it is expected that the findings should be made available by January 2022.
