NSW state minister questions need for casinos as The Star Sydney inquiry nears conclusion
Thursday 31 de March 2022 / 12:05
⏱ 2 min read
(Sydney).- The damning findings of recent inquiries into Australia’s two casino giants – Crown resorts and Star Entertainment Group – has led some NSW government ministers to question whether the state needs casinos at all.
ust days after the CEO of Star, Matt Bekier, became the latest high-profile casino executive to fall on his sword amid revelations around his company’s AML controls and relationship with Asian junkets, NSW Transport Minister Rob Stokes has called on colleagues to consider the industry’s future.
Stokes told parliament this week that the inquiries into Crown and Star “would have significant impacts on the regulatory environments faced by casino operators” and that “those impacts will generate a cascading series of consequences that should cause us to pose an existential question about the future of casinos in NSW,” according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Describing the benefits of casinos as “illusory and ephemeral”, Stokes also called them “veritable cesspits of dishonesty, tax evasion, junkets [and] money laundering”.
The Bergin inquiry into Crown Resorts, concluded in early 2021, found the company unsuitable to hold a casino license for Crown Sydney although there is talk that the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) is poised to re-issue the license imminently given the comprehensive remediation measures since undertaken by Crown.
The findings of a regular review into The Star Sydney will be handed down by June with public hearings concluding this week.
Both inquiries were instigated by media reports around the respective companies’ links to junket operators with Stokes noting that, “Basically, everything we were warned about turns out to be entirely true.
“Revelations of tax evasion also completely undermine the argument that casino operations are justified on the basis of the revenue they provide to support wider social and community benefits.”
The NSW government has already outlined plans to establish a new gaming regulator with specific oversight of the casino industry by the middle of this year.
Categoría:Casino
Tags: Sin tags
País: Australia
Event
AffPapa Conference Madrid 2026
18 de May 2026
StatsDrone Revolutionizes Data Analytics in iGaming at AffPapa Madrid 2026
(Madrid, SoloAzar Exclusive).- John Wright, CEO and co-founder of StatsDrone, shared with SoloAzar his insights after participating in the AffPapa Conference Madrid 2026. He discussed how the company presented its new analytics platform NousViz, the feedback received from attendees, and the strategic goals driving StatsDrone’s expansion in the iGaming and affiliate marketing industries.
Friday 29 May 2026 / 12:00
The Future of Operator-Affiliate Partnerships at AffPapa Madrid 2026
(Madrid, SoloAzar Exclusive).- At AffPapa Conference Madrid 2026, industry leaders gathered to discuss the evolving relationship between operators and affiliates during the panel “The Future of Operator-Affiliate Partnerships.” Moderated by Nugzar Ramishvili, the discussion featured Nikoleta Hristova, Havard Lehn, Nemanja Lazarevic, Gjorgje Ristikj and Armin Aganovic. The session explored key industry challenges including transparency, listing fees, AI adoption, streamer marketing, and the future sustainability of affiliate partnerships.
Friday 29 May 2026 / 12:00
Nordic.Partners Eyes the Future at AffPapa Madrid 2026
(Madrid, SoloAzar Exclusive).- During last week's AffPapa Conference Madrid 2026, SoloAzar spoke with Sara Hägge, CEO at Nordic.Partners, about the company’s participation in the event, the evolution of affiliate marketing within the global iGaming industry, and the strategic role of technology, branding, and community-building in today’s increasingly competitive market. In this interview, Hägge shares her views on affiliate needs, operational efficiency, AI integration, and the future opportunities shaping the affiliate ecosystem.
Thursday 28 May 2026 / 12:00
SUSCRIBIRSE
Para suscribirse a nuestro newsletter, complete sus datos
Reciba todo el contenido más reciente en su correo electrónico varias veces al mes.
