MEDIA STATEMENT: The Star Gold Coast licence suspension deferred

The Star Gold Coast licence suspension deferred

• The Star Gold Coast licence suspension has been deferred to 31 March 2025.
• Clear expectations have been set with The Star to ensure it takes urgent action to prioritise and deliver critical remediation measures.
• The Star’s completion of the measures will be assessed in February 2025, and will inform Government’s decision whether to suspend the casino licence.   
• This government’s current deferral of the casino licence suspension should not create an assumption that a further deferral will be granted.

A decision on suspending The Star’s casino licence has been deferred, as the Crisafulli Government seeks answers on how the business is fixing a litany of problems.

Governor in Council has approved the Cabinet’s recommendations to defer a decision on suspending The Star’s licence in respect of its Gold Coast casino until March next year.

The Star Gold Coast was due to have its casino licence suspended for 90 days, commencing 20 December 2024.

The Government considered the independent advice of Special Manager, Mr Nicholas Weeks, and The Star’s remediation progress to date.

The deferral will allow the Government to properly assess The Star’s progress on its only recently amended remediation plan.

Mr Weeks, whose role as Special Manager has also been extended to June 30 next year, will be an integral part of that process.

The Star’s progress in achieving its priority remediation measures of cultural reform, safer gambling, risk management, financial crime, and governance will be assessed in February. 

The outcome of the assessment will inform the Queensland Government’s decision on whether to suspend The Star Gold Coast casino licence. 

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said she was committed to holding The Star to account while restoring confidence in Queensland casinos.

“The Crisafulli Government has the highest standards when it comes to the integrity of casino operations and, unlike our predecessors, we are committed to transparency and restoring the confidence of Queenslanders in the regulatory process,” the Attorney-General said.

“We will release the Special Manager report and the outcome of the assessment following the Government’s March 2025 decision.

“This Government has been clear in its expectations of The Star, and will not allow The Star Gold Coast to keep operating as a casino at the expense of integrity, our Government’s high standards, and community safety.

“We recognise this may place pressure on The Star; however, the remediation actions must be its urgent priority.  

“There should be no assumption that there will be any further deferrals granted to The Star and any failure to meet milestones may result in The Star Gold Coast casino licence being suspended.”

An overview of The Star’s updated remediation plan is publicly available on its website.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Nardi 0475 688 124