Star Sydney Housed ‘Illegal’ Suncity Casino Within Casino, Lawyers Claim

June 28, 2022 Macau Crime & Legal Industry Updates

The Star Sydney may have violated the New South Wales Unlawful Gambling Act by running an illegal “casino within a casino.” That’s according to lawyers charged with scrutinizing Star Entertainment’s suitability to hold a gambling license in the Australian state.

On the final day of public hearings Monday, lawyers assisting the regulatory inquiry into Star’s business practices argued the company was not fit for licensing.

The inquiry has heard evidence that Star allowed Macau-based junket operator Suncity to secretly operate an unbranded VIP room, known as “Salon 95.” At the time, the junket had been identified by Australian authorities as having links to organized crime.

Lying to Regulators
Salon 95 continued to offer high-stakes baccarat games to high rollers after then-Star CEO Matt Bekier told regulators his company had severed business links to Suncity.

Bekier announced his resignation late March.

In closing arguments, Naomi Sharp SC suggested those games fell afoul of state gambling laws because “The promotion of the game was not by the casino operator in those circumstances.”