Queen’s Wharf Opens in Brisbane Amid Concerns Over Star Entertainment Group’s Casino License

August 30, 2024 Australia Casino & Hotel

The $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf hub in Brisbane officially opened its doors on August 29, 2024, showcasing a major new casino and a range of high-end amenities. However, the event was shadowed by ongoing concerns about the suitability of Star Entertainment Group as its primary casino licensee.

The Queen’s Wharf development promises to transform Brisbane with its 12-hectare site. The new complex features a casino, bars, restaurants, over 1,000 hotel rooms across three hotels, apartments, and an event center. Among its highlights is the Sky Deck, which offers panoramic views of the river, city, and South Brisbane.

The Star Grand, one of the three planned hotels, opened its doors on the launch day. The Dorsett and Rosewood hotels are scheduled to welcome guests by the end of 2026.

This project is spearheaded by Destination Brisbane Consortium, a joint venture led by The Star Entertainment Group, alongside its Hong Kong-based partners, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium. As part of the launch, the Neville Bonner Bridge was built by the development consortium and handed over to the state government. It now connects South Bank to Queen’s Wharf.

Daniel Finch, Chief Executive of The Star Brisbane, expressed confidence in the company’s progress toward meeting state standards for anti-money laundering and responsible gambling.

“We have a heightened focus on all of our anti-money laundering policies, procedures, internal control manuals, and measures, as well as counter-terrorism financing,” Finch was quoted as saying in an August 29, 2024 report published by Australian news outlet ABC News.

“We are also concentrating on safer gambling and harm minimization. We now have an extensive team and protocols in place, and we are well on our way to demonstrating suitability.”

Despite these assurances, Star Entertainment Group’s future as a casino operator remains uncertain. In 2022, the company faced a $100 million fine for serious failings at its Queensland casinos, including issues related to anti-money laundering and ethical practices. An independent review by former judge Robert Gotterson identified serious deficiencies in Star’s compliance programs. The state government initially deferred a show-cause notice on Star’s casino license until December 2023 and has since postponed it again to this December to allow Star additional time to implement its remediation plan.

The Treasury Casino and Hotel, which operated at a historic site in Brisbane, closed its gaming venue last weekend, though the hotel remains operational. The Star’s attempt to sell the Treasury property fell through in June 2023, and the building remains under sale negotiations.

As Queen’s Wharf embarks on its first phase, which adds 340 new hotel rooms to Brisbane’s accommodation market, the long-term goal is for the hub to become the location of a major new casino that could lure high rollers from around the world.