The operator of two of Queensland’s biggest casinos has been ordered to pay $140,000 after pleading guilty to allowing credit cards to be illegally used when buying gambling chips.
Star Entertainment, which operates Brisbane’s Treasury Casino and the Star Gold Coast, was ordered to pay the penalties following an investigation by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR).
The Star had pleaded guilty to eleven offences relating to the operation of its two Queensland casinos in March this year.
The casino operator was sentenced and ordered to pay a fine of $140,000 and court costs of $3,250 on Wednesday.
Seven of the eleven charges relate to accepting credit wagers of more than $170,000 between 2017 and 2022.
The operator had allowed customers to use their credit card to deposit significant amounts of money into their casino account with EFTPOS machines installed in the facilities.
The illegal decision allowed customers to potentially gamble beyond their means.
The Star had also pleaded guilty to distributing promotional or advertising material about the casino in February 2022 to people the operators knew or should have known were excluded or banned from entering the casino.
This was despite the OLGR warning the casino operator a number of times about similar conduct in the past.
Following the judgement, a spokeswoman for The Star said the company takes “compliance obligations very seriously”.
“We are absolutely focused on improving and returning to suitability in Queensland and NSW, with the goal of earning back the trust of our regulators, governments, shareholders, team members, guests and community,” she said.
Queensland’s Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said all casinos were expected to operate lawfully and ethically across the state.
“Allowing credit betting and distributing promotional material to excluded persons are not acceptable ways for casinos to operate in Queensland,” Ms D’Ath said.
“The authority to operate a casino is a privilege.
“In return, the community expects The Star, at an absolute minimum, to effectively control risks, such as gambling harm and money laundering.”
The court imposed penalty comes after the casino group was threatened with a massive fine in December, after the Queensland Government ordered the operator “get its house in order” within 12 months or pay $100 million in pecuniary penalties after its processes in its Queensland casinos were found unsuitable.
Ms D’Ath said the latest reforms, triggered by the Gotterson Review, was essential to “ensuring public confidence in our casinos”.
“That’s why we will continue to strengthen and enforce our casino laws,” she said.
“The regulator is closely monitoring all casinos operating in Queensland and will take action if they fall short of their requirements.”
A special manager was also appointed to monitor the operations of the Star’s Queensland casinos in October.
NCA NewsWire has contacted Star Casino for comment.