Brisbane’s AU$3.6bn (US$2.5bn) Queen’s Wharf opened on Thursday, August 29, though concerns persist regarding the suitability of its chief partner, Star Entertainment Group, as a casino licensee.
Local news outlet ABC News reports that Star Brisbane chief executive Daniel Finch stated the company is making significant progress in meeting the state government’s standards for anti-money laundering and responsible gambling practices.
At the Queen’s Wharf launch, Finch announced that the new casino opened at 2pm local time on Thursday and stated that significant progress had been made in completing their remediation plan.
“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,” he said. “We are also concentrating on safer gambling and harm minimisation. We now have an extensive team and protocols in place, and we are well on our way to demonstrating suitability.”
The future of Star Entertainment Group as a casino operator remains uncertain in both Queensland and New South Wales. In 2022, the state government imposed AU$100m (US$68.1m) in fines on Star due to “major failings” at its Queensland casinos in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief
