The delay comes as the government evaluates Star’s ongoing efforts to rectify issues identified during investigations into the company’s practices.
Star Entertainment, which operates The Star Gold Coast and the newly opened The Star Brisbane, was originally slated to face a 90-day suspension of its Gold Coast casino licence beginning 20 December 2024.
This penalty stems from a series of compliance failures uncovered during enquiries into its New South Wales operations, including its flagship property, The Star Sydney.
In its announcement, the Queensland government emphasised its commitment to transparency and restoring public confidence in the casino regulatory process.
Officials cited advice from Star’s special manager, Nick Weeks, and preliminary assessments of the company’s remediation progress as key factors in the decision to defer immediate action.
The government will re-evaluate Star’s progress in February 2025, focusing on critical areas such as cultural reform, safer gambling practices, enhanced risk management, financial crime prevention, and improved governance structures.
A final determination on the casino licence suspension is expected in March 2025.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington underscored the government’s high expectations for integrity within casino operations. She stated that community safety and maintaining rigorous standards remain non-negotiable priorities.
The government also plans to release the special manager’s report and its own assessment findings after the March decision.Frecklington acknowledged that the deferral could place significant pressure on Star Entertainment but insisted that remediation must remain the company’s top priority.
She warned against assuming that further extensions would be granted, emphasising that failure to meet established milestones could result in the licence suspension proceeding as planned.
Ongoing challenges
The deferral comes at a time of considerable upheaval for Star Entertainment as it grapples with financial instability and heightened regulatory scrutiny.
Managing director and CEO Steve McCann, who took over in June with a mandate to stabilise the company and restore its regulatory standing, recently acknowledged that returning Star to full compliance would require significant time and effort.
McCann highlighted subdued business activity and elevated compliance costs as persistent challenges.
This is not the first time the Queensland government has delayed a decision regarding Star Entertainment’s casino licences.
In May, the company was granted additional time to demonstrate its suitability to operate land-based casinos in the state.
More recently, in September, Star sold the lease for Brisbane’s Treasury building following the closure of its casino there—a move aimed at alleviating financial strain.
