- Casino
- By State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- By State
- Slots
- Poker
- Sports
- Esports
Australian Casino the Star on the Verge of Losing Its License

The New South Wales (NSW) gambling regulator continues its investigation of the controversial casino The Star. Senior counsel Naomi Sharp stated that the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority’s (ILGA)’s findings found the establishment unfit to hold a license.
The Star Had a Long History of Disregard for the Rules
ILGA’s 26 public hearings exposed a substantial number of serious infractions. The casino allowed select VIP customers to deposit and withdraw $900 million via Chinese debit cards and disguised the transactions as hotel expenses in order to deceive banks. The process included fictitious hotel invoices where clients would rent “dummy rooms.” This scheme allowed wealthy patrons to move tens of thousands of dollars each month. Chinese billionaire Phillip Dong Fang Lee made over $100 million worth of transactions despite never staying at the hotel. Over 14 years, the real estate tycoon managed to pass an impressive $2 billion through Star.
Suncity, the junket operator that brought Chinese high-rollers to the casino, operated a hidden VIP gambling area within Star and maintained an illegal cash cage. The practice continued despite Suncity’s well-known ties to crime syndicates. Alvin Chau, another Chinese billionaire and the man behind Suncity, ran a casino inside the casino with Star’s full knowledge and support.
The Star also circumvented regulations to allow unauthorized overseas deposits. The operator failed to conduct probity checks on transactions worth $70 million and even assisted foreign clients in hiding their payments from the Chinese government.
The Regulator Has Found No Evidence in Favor of the Casino
Over a dozen senior executives at Star have resigned, but ILGA does not consider this sufficient for the casino to keep its license. According to SC Naomi Sharp, the company had only now begun its journey to redemption. She pointed out that most executives to testify before the regulator had not given credible testimonies and had not yet reflected on the brand’s failures.
Sharp added that senior management at the casino had “repeatedly misled” the New South Wales regulator. According to her, allowing the brand to continue operating would only be possible after clear evidence of positive change. However, the senior council concluded that The Star had undergone some negative changes over the past months. In her words, “this evidence does not exist.”
Star May Become the Second Australian Operator to Lose Its License
If Star’s license gets revoked, the event would be the second such case in the past couple of years. In February 2021, Crown Resorts lost its right to operate after an investigation by the regulator uncovered instances of money laundering, law breaches, and ties to criminal organizations. Many of The Star’s overseas VIP customers were also regulars at Crown, and junket operator Suncity serviced both casinos.
Star’s lawyers claim that while the casino was unsuited to hold a gambling license at the start of the review, the recent resignations of senior executives and continued efforts to better abide by regulations have increased the establishment’s compliance to a suitable level.
Related Topics:
Deyan is an experienced writer, analyst, and seeker of forbidden lore. He has approximate knowledge about many things, which he is always willing to apply when researching and preparing his articles. With a degree in Copy-editing and Proofreading, Deyan is able to ensure that his work writing for Gambling News is always up to scratch.
Must Read
Casino
October 17, 2025
111 Illegal Slot Machines and $37K Seized in Lee County
Casino
October 17, 2025
Las Vegas Tourism Boss Sees Big Growth Coming
Casino
October 15, 2025
Hard Rock’s Guitar Hotel in Las Vegas Is Already Taking Shape
More Articles
Industry
October 21, 2025
Embark on a Thrilling Ride in NetGaming’s Fly High
Casino
October 21, 2025
Arkansas Player Refused to Gun for Mega Millions – Got $1.38M
Casino
October 21, 2025
Experts Urge Unified Reform for Korea’s Casino Industry
Casino
October 20, 2025
Hostage Standoff Unfolds at Foxwoods Resort Casino
Sports
October 20, 2025
Breaking the Cycle: One Woman’s Fight Against Gambling
Casino
October 20, 2025
India Supreme Court Reviews Online Gambling PIL
Casino
October 17, 2025
Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino Acts in Wake of Mass Shooting
Casino
October 17, 2025
French Authorities Bust $1.2B Illegal Gambling Ring
Casino
October 17, 2025
Online Casinos Are No-Go in Maryland as Majority Doesn’t Want Them