Australian Casinos Archives - Page 7 of 11

Coronavirus consequences pile up for The Star Entertainment Group Limited

August 25, 2020 by Admin

Australian casino operator, The Star Entertainment Group Limited has purportedly recorded an overall loss of about $68.07 million for the twelve months to the end of June. Most of this downturn in fortunes can be attributed to the operation shuttering its Queensland and Victoria facilities in response to the Coronavirus threat.

Inside Asian Gaming reported that the company was obliged to close its The Star Gold Coast, Treasury Brisbane, and The Star Sydney properties for ten-weeks from March 23, resulting in an annual company-wide revenue drop of 31% year-on-year to $1.06 billion.

A hard knock

The publication went on to report that The Star Entertainment Group Limited would refrain from declaring a final dividend for the 12 months after noting a 49% year-on-year reduction in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization to only $202.04 million.

In the eight months to the end of February, before the arrival of the Coronavirus, the firm had already recorded a 10.1% decrease in overall revenues to roughly $966.78 million but was still maintaining a profit of around $47.97 million.

Better days

The Star Sydney’s performance had been on a comparative plateau before the Coronavirus made itself known with the domestic and VIP sectors both showing signs of slowing growth. In contrast, the organisation advised that its Treasury Brisbane and The Star Gold Coast venues were doing well, with an 80.3% increase in VIP revenues, contributing to a 62% improvement for the financial year, valued at approximately $167.99 million.

Fighting adversity

The Star Entertainment Group Limited reported that July saw its VIP turnover al by 95% year-on-year with its domestic business falling by a less alarming 20%. The Star Sydney venue’s ability to trade was severely hampered by stricter social distancing requirements in Victoria.

In an official statement, the organisation made a show of confidence, expressing the determination to make a full recovery.

“Our business is fundamentally strong, which is evidenced by the step-up in earnings growth from the first half to the early second half of the financial year. The long-term value uplift from investments in our network of integrated resorts and continuing operational improvements to drive visitation and earnings remain substantial.”

Star Sydney penalised amid underage gambling concerns

August 21, 2020 by Admin

The Star Sydney received a $64 000 fine when minors were discovered gambling at its premises. Surveillance footage captured a 12-year-old girl and two other juveniles gaining access to electronic games. The girl managed to place close to 24 bets on poker machines.

Dubious parenting

In a shocking outcome, it was discovered that the child’s parents helped her in her gambling exploits. The casino’s surveillance system also showed the child’s mother helping her enter the casino by holding the exit door open in an attempt to avoid detection.

In the video footage, which was released by Liquor & Gaming New South Wales, the girl can be seen to gamble for about 20 minutes with the assistance of her parents. Despite their crucial role in her actions, the casino itself is ultimately liable for the transgression.

David Byrne, the NSW Independent Liquor & Authority director of Investigations and intervention said that minors entering through deceptive means should have been an eventuality the casino was prepared for.

Byrne Stated that the casino failed in its duty to account for the risk and that casino staff should have taken note of a visibly young child having fun at the pokies.

More minors

Two other older minors were also able to gamble at the casino and a 17-year-old was also found gambling on the premises while being served alcohol. He managed to play several rounds of roulette and got a few poker hands in before being ejected from the casino. The teenager used his own license to gain entry and interacted with members of staff at least 15 times during the time he was there.

A different incident saw a 16-year old girl entering the casino through the VIP checkout. No ID was requested from her initially and when she was finally asked, she produced a fake ID that was accepted, and she was subsequently served alcohol.

SkyCity Adelaide resumes trading

July 8, 2020 by Admin

The coronavirus has shown no sign of slowing its global spread, but the show must go on as the saying goes and the Australian casino gambling is gradually getting back to business. A few states have already permitted the reopening of gambling facilities. SkyCity Adelaide in South Australia recently opened for business again and the New Zealand-based SkyCity was able to welcome local punters back to their venue in May.

COVID-19’s South Australian impact

Recent data reveals that there has been a total of 443 confirmed cases in South Australia with 436 recoveries and four deaths.

Australia total confirmed case count stands at just over 8,000 at present, with a total of 104 deaths. Beyond the tragic fatalities, Australia is performing quite well in their management of the pandemic, considering the 10.7 million global cases that have resulted in 516,000 fatalities.

SkyCity Adelaide’sreturn

SkyCity Adelaide closed its doors on March 23^rd due to the threat of the virus but was able to resume restricted operations on June 29^th.

This move coincided with South Australia’s transition to its third and final stage of their plan to reopen the state’s economy. This news bodes well for casino employees as it means the reinstatement of up to 950 jobs at the historic Railway Station on the banks of the Torrens.

Premier Rewards members only

This initial reopening period will see members of SkyCity’s Premier Rewards club having exclusive access to the casino. The club offers numerous rewards and perks to its members, namely:

Increased betting limits
Food and beverage discounts
Exclusive promos and events
Free parking
Members earn redeemable points as they play which can be exchanged for everything from chips to food
Merchandise discounts
Larger jackpots
Members can be selected as a VIP player

The members-only rule enables tracking of how many and which people are in the casino at any given time, which makes contact tracing a simple matter.

SkyCity Adelaide expects this interim period to conclude by mid-July when it plans to reopen to the general public who have otherwise been playing at legal casinos online. Punters will be required to sign up on the day of their visit and produce valid photo ID.

More than just arm’s length

SkyCity Adelaide has gone through some significant changes to provide a safe environment. The adjustments mostly relate to keeping safe distances and minimising contact:

Everyone is required to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres between each other.
Every alternate gaming machine will be kept off to maintain space between players.
Hand sanitizer is available for all guests and employees.
A three-person limit on table games and a ban on back-betting will be enforced.

The limit of one person for every two metres has effectively reduced the casino’s maximum occupancy to about 2,200, including employees, but this will naturally return to normal as the impact of the virus fades and restrictions are further relaxed.

Trading hours

The casino’s current hours of operation are as follows:

Gaming machines are available from 9 am.
Table games start operation at midday.
The casino shuts at 4 am, Sunday to Thursday.
On Friday and Saturday, the casino closes at 6 am.

The reward/birthday points programmes

SkyCity Adelaide’s reward programme gives members two types of points and members have thankfully been given an extension on how long they have to redeem them.

The expiry of reward points has been put off until January 1^st, 2021. On this date, all points earned before July 1st, 2020 will expire. All other points will remain viable for six months from the time they were awarded.

Reward program members also get bonus points for their birthdays. In 2020, members with birthdays that fall from March through August will be able to redeem these points until September 30th.

Australian casinos feel the heat of Coronavirus consequences

April 18, 2020 by Admin

The first truly global epidemic in centuries has left the planet in a state of confusion and panic. All around the world, economies are crashing leaving many businesses scrambling for survival and the gambling sector is no exception.

Australia has taken measures similar to many countries, compelling its citizens to stay at home and practice social distancing if they need to go out into public. Crown Resorts, a major gaming and entertainment corporation, has felt the effects of this with their business slowing down significantly in recent weeks.

Crown operations suspended

Crown Resorts announced in early March that it would be adhering to all prescribed safety measures. The electronic gaming tables and slots at its Melbourne casino venue were shut down, but the casinos themselves remained open, drawing widespread public criticism.

In light of the fact that the strict measures imposed by the government to fight the spread of COVID-19 require all non-essential; businesses to completely halt operations, Crown’s decision to remain partially open drew the ire of many.

Crown Resorts announced on March 23 that it’s Perth and Melbourne entertainment divisions would halt operations completely. The company shut down its conference, gambling and food & beverage activities at these venues, however, the hotel accommodation and meal delivery arms of the business remained functional.

Crown saw fit to shut down the gaming services aspect of its business after the Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer and the Australian government issued directives. With the futures of Crown’s 20,000 staff in the balance, the company’s CEO has advised that a lot of thought is going into mitigating the financial damage caused by the pandemic.

Crown Resorts equal to the challenge

Brick and mortar casinos inherently lend themselves to higher potential infection rates because of how many people could make contact with various surfaces and machines within. Crown resorts, despite having to weather major financial losses during this time, is confident that once the national infection rate is brought under control, it will be able to resume business and more than compensate for the “downtime”

Stay safe means stay home

Online casinos have emerged as one of the few business sectors not taking heavy losses because of the pandemic. Online operators have seen a significant increase in player enrolment in the last few weeks as players who would normally frequent physical casino venues are now turning to online real-money casinos for their gambling entertainment. Many online casinos have experienced a boom in account registration numbers as players flock to make up for their inability to visit their favorite gambling spots.

The best online casinos

The forced lifestyle change that many are experiencing may end up converting them to prefer playing at online casinos.

Choosing an online casino can seem daunting as you will be spoiled for choice, however, there are a few things to look out for to ensure that you are making the best possible choice for yourself.

A good starting point when choosing an online casino is to see whether they offer a no-deposit bonus which allows you to sign up and tour a casino without making an upfront financial commitment and sometimes you may even get a free chip to try your luck with.

The standard for online casinos is quite high across the board so there will be many different types of bonus offers to entice you into joining up with them. For the most part, you can expect airtight security measures and a wide variety of games in different categories that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re after real money pokies, table games, or baccarat, there is something to cater to your tastes and desires.

World Poker Tour announces three new festivals for Australia’s Star Gold Coast

March 6, 2020 by Admin

This week, the World Poker Tour (WPT) announced The Star Gold Coast in Australia will play host to not one, but three new WPT festivals. The World Poker Tour will be returning to the region for the second time during Season XVII, hosting an event beginning in April. The very next season, the festival will be back in action again, this time, in September, and then again in April 2021.

WPT Australia Action:

The Star Gold Coast will be hosting the WPTDeepStacks Gold Coast from April 30th through May 4th, offering a full schedule of gaming options. This stop is part of the current season. By the time Season XIX starts, the WPT will be back in Australia on September 24th to host the AUD $1,100 WPTDeepStacks Australia. This event will be followed by the WPT Australia Main Event on October 2nd. This event will have a buy-in of AUD $5,400.

Fast forward to 2021, and the Season XIX will be back at The Star Gold Coast to host the WPTDeepStacks once again. This festival will take place from April 23rd to May 3rd. The Main Event of this stop has a buy-in of AUD $1,500.

The first time the WPT headed to Australia was earlier in Season XVIII with plenty of poker action. A total of 658 entries were seen, which created a prize pool of AUD $1.48 million. The event was won by Hari Varma to the tune of AUD $274,247.

According to the WPT…

COO of The Star Gold Coast, Jess Mellor, commented on the new events by stating: “The Star Gold Coast and the nation of Australia warmly welcomes back the WPT for WPTDeepStacks Gold Coast and the rapidly approaching WPT Australia festival. Last year’s event showed the poker world that The Star Gold Coast is a must-attend poker destination and we look forward to showcasing our property to more players from around the globe.”

Season XIX:

Just a few days before the Australia stops were announced by the WPT, it was revealed that Season XIX will begin with the WPT Cambodia. The NagaWorld Integrated Resort will be hosting the event. The full series will run from July 15th to the 28th. There will be 26 events on the schedule with buy-ins ranging from $200 to $15,000.

Between playing regular pokies, you will have plenty of time to get yourself tournament ready by practicing your poker skills online!

Investigation into Crown Resorts Limited kicks off in New South Wales

February 21, 2020 by Admin

The gaming regulator for New South Wales has initiated the first of five public hearings into allegations that local casino operator Crown Resorts Limited may have enlisted the services of shady agents in order to lure wealthy Chinese gamblers to its venues.

In a Saturday report on Bloomberg news service, it was revealed that the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority is probing claims that the Crown Resorts had used individuals connected to human traffickers, drug cartels and money launderers with the end goal of attracting foreign clients to its venues.

Potential shutdown:

The news service described how the probe, led by former New South Wales Supreme Court Judge, Patricia Bergin, could spell the end for Crown Resorts Limited’s operating license for its planned Crown Sydney facility. The Bangaroo harbour-side $1.5 billion property in central Sydney was set to begin welcoming gamblers later in the year, with 50 months of construction already completed.

Shady friends:

Bloomberg has reported that the inquiry could compel testimony from billionaire James Packer, Crown’s largest investor. Melco Resorts’ Chairman and CEO, Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, could also be called up to testify. The report lays out how Melco had been poised to acquire an almost 20% shareholding in Crown Resorts, only to halve the arrangement late last month, leaving it with a 9.9% stake.

Criminal ties:

Crown Resorts Limited is additionally responsible for the Western Australian Crown Perth venue and Victoria’s giant Crown Melbourne. loomberg reported that the investigation will take a hard look at the relationship between Ho and his father, 98-year-old Macau casino magnate Stanley Ho Hung Sun. The elder Ho has previously been banned from investing in Australian casinos amid allegations that his gambling empire is largely due to his associations with organized crime groups.

Possible policy review:

The news report went on to reveal that an inquest by the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority could possibly review the state’s gambling regulations and legislation as well as the exposure of local casinos to money laundering.

Changing faces:

Bloomberg also reported that Crown Resorts Limited has pre-emptively tapped new Non-Executive Chairman Helen Coonan to overhaul its corporate governance functions. Coonan, a 72-year-old ex-senator stepped into a role previously filled by executive chairman, John Alexander. She will wade into uncertain territory with a re-organized board, notably, new Chief Executive Officer Ken Barton.

Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited emerge triumphant in legal skirmish

February 9, 2020 by Admin

Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited have successfully fended off a legal challenge relating to an inquest focused on their suitability to purchase a stake in Crown Resorts Limited.

GGRAsia, citing a story from The Australian Financial Review newspaper, reported that Melco drew the attention of The New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority after penning a $1.2 billion deal in May that was to see it gain a near 20% stake in Crown Resorts Limited which would be paid for in two installments.

Murky family ties:

The investigation is focused on determining whether the deal could amount to a ‘breach’ of Crown’s gaming license due to the proximity of Lawrence Ho Yau Lung to the matter. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited and also, notably the son of 98-year-old Macau casino mogul Stanley Ho Hung Sun. Stanley himself has faced prohibition in Australia where he was banned from investing in legal casinos due to suspicion that his gambling empire owes a lot of its successes to links with organized crime groups.

Hard limits:

GGRAsia’s report details how Melco filed an action with the Supreme Court of New South Wales last month on the heels of a request by the regulator for access to documents it claimed were legally privileged. The argument was based on their position that the regulator is not entitled to access the papers in question, as the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority do not possess the same far-reaching authority as an Australian Royal Commission.

Firm ruling:

On Monday, the state’s highest court decided that the regulator had gone beyond the scope of its authority in demanding the restricted information and that the ‘privileges including legal professional privilege’ of Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited had not been ‘abrogated for the purposes of the inquiry.’

A hollow victory?

The ruling, while significant won’t have any bearing on Melco’s immediate plans as they have already announced the cancellation of the second acquisition installment, citing the ‘impact of the coronavirus epidemic’ as well as the need to use capital on ‘core assets’ as reasons. This move leaves Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited a stake of 9.99% in Crown Resorts Limited, which is a shareholding that does not require approval from the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority.

Bendigo gambling records record losses

February 4, 2020 by Admin

Luck seems to be consistently evading the punters of Bendigo, Victoria. The latest data reveals that players from the region are losing more at pokies than a year prior. The period from 2018 to 2019 saw pokies losses increase by 2.5% from $50,005,104 to $51,218,482. This brings the loss to $1 million, the biggest upsurge in a decade.

Officials were blindsided by this news as efforts to combat problem gambling have been recently intensified by local authorities. Recent years have seen a number of pokies being frozen across the state. In addition, pokies have been limited in areas with higher levels of identified vulnerable players have seen their pokies limited, and restrictions being placed on cash withdrawals.

Bendigo’s 2019 gambling losses

The section below examines 11 gambling venues in the Greater Bendigo area and their losses recorded from July to December 2019.

Bendigo District DSL – $4,497,386.03. The winning average, per-machine came to $48,359 on 93 pokies.
Kangaroo Flat Sports Club – $1,150,982.95. The club’s pokies averaged $19,183
Windemere Hotel – $3,443,838.94. 40 poker machines made an average of $86,096 apiece.
Bendigo Stadium – $3,171,202.11. This sporting arena scored an average of $30,202 per machine.
The All Seasons Hotel – $5,953,660.52. The venue’s 99 machines took an average of $60,138.
The Bendigo Club – $1,452,749.29. The club’s machines earned an average of $24,212.
The Foundry Hotel Complex – $1,011,013.19. Each poker machine earned an average of $40,441.
Shamrock Hotel – $1,950,726.21. The pokies’ average earnings came in at $30,011.
The Rising Sun Hotel – $1,865,571.57. The per-machine average was $53,302.
The Borough Club – $1,497,975.14. The machines averaged $37,449.
City Family Hotel – $823,027.32. The per-machine winning average was $21,103.

Greater Bendigo has a population of over 111,000 people. Bearing this in mind, the losses average out to $441 per resident. Most Bendigonians, however, don’t play pokies, so these losses are being absorbed by an unlucky few.

The challenging peculiarities of Online Gambling

Victoria’s push to address against problem gambling still has many hurdles to clear. The state has endorsed several restrictions against online gaming operators in 2019. Among the most notable are:

Sports-betting providers are barred from marketing online services to customers. The sole exception applies where punters who want to play real money online pokies decide to opt-in to marketing of this type.
Operators must streamline the processes punters have to follow to set limits or close their accounts.
Websites are prohibited from offering vouchers, credit or other rewards to tempt punters into opening an account.
Free money can only be awarded, under the condition that it’s can only be used to make wagers.

The above rules listed above form part of the National Consumer Protection Framework. Several years’ worth of effort and dedication went into this initiative which is squarely focused on reducing gambling harm within Victoria.

Costello chimes in

Tim Costello, chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform understandably had strong feelings regarding the gambling losses and wasted no time in making them known.

He characterized pokies as a “blight” on Bendigo, adding, “Poker machines are designed to be deliberately addictive.”

“Poker machines are an effective drain on local economies. We know that a substantial percentage of those losses come from people experiencing gambling harm and that gambling harm is often at its worst in areas that can least afford the losses.”

Costello laid out his suggested solutions to remedy the problem:

Do away with losses masquerading as wins.
Introduce regulations to limit the spin rate of pokies.
Reduce the maximum per-spin wager limit from $5 to $1.
Cut business hours for places offering pokies.

Casino Mogul Donates to Aussie Wildfire Relief

January 14, 2020 by Admin

The world has watched in combined shock as wildfires have torn across Australia, taking lives and causing untold damage. The average person can do little other than to hope for the best, but those who are able to assist, such as local casino mogul James Packer, have done their part in the way that most makes sense, by donating.

Packer is most known for owning multiple casinos across Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as being a key name in the various luxurious Crown Resorts. He initially donated AU$1 million back in November, when the fires first erupted. But as the fires spread, intensified, and show no signs of abating, the billionaire businessman made an additional donation of AU$4 million.

The amount will be split between the Crown Resorts Foundation and Packer Family Foundation, which will, in turn, provide funding to the various fire-fighting services and relief efforts across the country.

Doing His Bit for The Country

The 52-year-old businessman explains that he was utterly horrified by the images he saw of the local devastation. This involves the latest reports on the fires, which have now claimed 2 lives, as well as destroying 43 homes in East Gippsland.

The sight motivated Packer to do his bit, he elaborated, in the only way he could, by making another donation. Though it was noted that the funds are limited to Western Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, all of which are also home to Crown Resorts. So, some criticism has been heard accusing the mogul of favouring only areas where his personal casino investments are located. Either way, the donation is still certainly a generous one.

Crown Resorts Face Their Own Fire

But these accusations are the least of Packer’s worries at this point. His donations come at a time when he is having his own feet put to the fire, with local anti-money laundering regulator, AUSTRAC, homing in on his resorts.

Mutterings of serious misconduct in connection with Crown Resorts have long been rumoured, and may soon come to light as AUSTRAC engage in their investigations. It has been suggested that Crown Resort casinos, and by extension Packer himself, have indirectly been involved with organised crime syndicates, including those that have links to human trafficking and illegal drug trade.

It remains to be seen if the accusations turn out to be true, but the investigation itself is certainly not good publicity for the billionaire, despite his generous donations.

A Recap of Australia Gambling News in 2019

January 7, 2020 by Admin

2019 is over, but many of the events from the previous year remain. This is especially true of Aussie gambling news, as many items will continue to have an impact during this year and beyond.

This article serves as a recap of the most important stories of the year. Be sure to check back with us throughout 2020, as many of these are bound to crop up once again.

Revised Advertising Codes for New Zealand

Gambling ads in New Zealand are now facing greater scrutiny. This is due to a new code enacted by the Advertising Standards Authority. The main points include:

Gambling ads cannot target children or young people.
Gambling ads must be truthful. Chances of winning must be verified, and terms and conditions should be readily available.
Under the new guidelines, ads cannot condone or encourage harm from gambling.

Woolworths Abandons Gambling

Supermarket giant Woolworths has been offering poker machines to its customers since 2004. However, that all changed thanks to a July announcement that the retailer was getting out of the gambling business. Their 12,000 pokies will be spun off into another company, so expect another major player to appear on the gaming scene in 2020.

Trouble for Crown Resorts

Crown Resorts came under fire after a series of damaging media reports. While Crown has denied the various accusations, the Aussie government is making inquiries.

According to various reports, Crown may be guilty of the following sins:

Got politicians to bend the rules to make it easier for Chinese high rollers to enter the country.
Violating various gambling laws in China.
Arranged for prostitutes to accompany high rollers on their flights to Australia.
Dealt with crime syndicates who controlled junkets, including those involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.

Casino Canberra Suffers Losses

Since its debut in 1992, Casino Canberra has been a gambling mainstay in the Australian Capital Territory. Unfortunately, that’s starting to change.

Despite multiple efforts, the casino has failed to secure permission to offer poker machines. There was talk of expansion after being purchased by the Aquis Group in 2014, but the proposals were shot down by the ACT government.

For the first six months of 2019, the casino reported a loss of over $2 million. Losses were up 18.4% from the previous year, which is never a good sign.

WPT Debuts in Australia

The World Poker Tour made its debut in Australia in 2019. The event took place at The Star Gold Coast in Queensland, with Hari Varma picking up the win and $274,247 in prize money.

Credit Card Giant Bans Gambling Transactions

Back in July, the Macquarie Group announced that their credit cards could no longer be used for real money gambling transactions. This ban applies to poker, bingo, and even lottery draws. This move drew praise from the Alliance for Gambling Reform, although seasoned punters were no doubt upset.

Self-Exclusion for Online Gamblers

In the near future, Aussie gamblers will be able to exclude themselves from online casinos and sportsbooks. It’s known as the National Self-Exclusion Register, and it’ll be overseen by the Australian Communication and Media Authority. Since the number of problem gamblers across the nation grows each year, this seems like a reasonable step.

Credit Card Ban on Sports Betting

There’s already a ban in place on using credit cards at Australian casinos. However, the same may soon apply to sports betting. The Australian Banking Association is asking members of the community for their input, and this will continue until March 4th. Afterward, the organization will decide whether or not a ban is justified.

Facial Recognition in Australia

Facial recognition technology is already being used in some Aussie casinos and cities. Now, Tabcorp Holdings is about to be added to the list. Beginning in the middle of 2020, more than 400 TAB agencies will be adding the technology to combat underage gambling.

There’s also talk of starting a nationwide database to combat everything from terrorism to identity theft. A bill has been introduced into the House of Representatives, but there’s yet to be a definite decision. Still, it seems like only a matter of time before you’ll have to use such technology to sign up for online casinos and porn sites.

Happy 2020

The year 2020 promises to be filled with exciting news from across the nation. In order to keep up, be sure to check in here on a regular basis. Until next time, here’s hoping you have a happy and prosperous new year!