This Month
- Updated
- Gaming & wagering
Former Star CEO says he felt ‘under assault’ from casino regulator
Robbie Cooke left last month after NSW officials made it clear they did not think he was moving fast enough to fix governance and cultural issues at the group.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Robbie Cooke’s last stand shows Star Entertainment’s big problem
The gaming group’s former chief executive said he felt under attack by the company’s regulator. Has this us-and-them mentality really left the business?
- James Thomson
- Updated
- Gaming & wagering
‘Not a scenario’: Star concedes it’s unfit to operate Sydney
The gaming giant’s chairman has also told a NSW inquiry that he was “trigger-happy” when he sent messages suggesting the regulator be scrapped.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
‘Wish I put my phone down’: Star chairman’s lament won’t save job
David Foster says his messages about the regulator were made in the heat of the moment. But his evidence showed increasing tensions between Star and the regulator.
- Updated
- James Thomson
Crown Resorts finally gets the green light to run Sydney casino
The Blackstone-owned gaming giant had been subject to a string of restrictions after a NSW inquiry called into doubt its ability to properly run a casino.
- Zoe Samios
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
We still don’t know if Star has hit the bottom
Star’s chief risk officer says the casino operator is closer to the start of its turnaround plan than the end. That’s a worry for investors.
- James Thomson
Star’s risk chief says fraud could happen again if culture not fixed
Scott Saunders, chief risk officer of Star Entertainment, said he’s never worked in an organisation that was under as much pressure.
- Zoe Samios
Another casino operator is in trouble. Nobody is talking about it
Star Entertainment has been tearing itself apart. But SkyCity is also in a world of pain, with lenders sceptical, money tight and management in disarray.
- Zoe Samios
Star rejects claims it misled regulator
A senior executive told the inquiry she knew up to 25,000 source of wealth checks were incomplete as contact details for the customers were unable to be found.
- Zoe Samios
Star Entertainment is eating itself alive
How far will the regulator push the company? How much damage have squabbling executives done? An inquiry into the Sydney casino operator is getting ugly.
- Kylar Loussikian and Zoe Samios
Mathieson buys more Star shares as inquiry fallout spreads
The independent inquiry into the casino group heard from more current and former executives about dysfunction within the business.
- Zoe Samios and Liam Walsh
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Star’s ‘lost’ six months could cost it dearly
Star’s failure to change its culture after a series of scandals could now cost it the chance to win back its casino licence.
- James Thomson
Star inquiry fallout spreads to Bendigo bank board
Wednesday’s hearing was interrupted when Star’s solicitors released documents to the inquiry related to its former CFO, Christina Katsibouba.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
Former Star CFO alleges the company tried to cook the books
Christina Katsibouba, who quit last month, told an NSW inquiry into the casino that her former boss did not want to be transparent about debt troubles.
- Zoe Samios
- Updated
- Casinos
Star plotted to oust regulator, failed to check high-risk clients
Star Entertainment’s chairman and former chief executive privately schemed to wage war on the casino regulator and considered engaging shareholders in a class action against a NSW government-appointed manager.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
‘Get ready for war’: Star chairman and CEO’s descent into madness
The embattled casino group told the world it was co-operating with its regulator. But behind the scenes, it was dreaming up a hare-brained scheme to sue them.
- Updated
- James Thomson
Broken Star cash machine gushed cash and exposed ‘deep cultural’ issue
For weeks, one terminal paid out millions to patrons who already cashed their wins. “Numerous failures” prevented the fraud being detected, an inquiry heard.
- Kylar Loussikian and Zoe Samios
Star reveals more losses as it braces for public hearings
Star told investors it was losing large sums of money from customers visiting VIP areas, where trading is down.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
Betr shakes off News Corp past and joins ASX in merger with BlueBet
Matthew Tripp, the veteran bookmaker, and his co-investors will become the controlling shareholders of the combined group amid broader industry consolidation.
- Zoe Samios
Betr, BlueBet poised to strike merger deal in major wagering shake-up
Betr was once backed by News Corp but is now owned by a consortium of investors headed by Matthew Tripp, a well-known industry figure.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport