- 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
Star Entertainment Took $1.3B from Xiangmo, a Dangerous Chinese Billionaire
Star Entertainment continues getting into trouble. The company is currently being reviewed after it was accused of being involved in money laundering, foreign interference, crime, and fraud. According to a recent finding, Star allowed a Chinese billionaire to deposit billions without checking his source of income.
Star Entertainment’s Closeness with Xiangmo Is Concerning
Huang Xiangmo had deposited around $1.3 billion (in US dollars) in Star between 2010 and 2018. Despite the Australian regulations and the ludicrous sums, Star Entertainment never bothered to check the bettor’s source of income. This was one of the numerous regulation breaches Star was found guilty of as the inquiry continues.
Xiangmo was eventually chased out of Australia in 2019 after the government concluded he may be an agent of the Chinese government. He was found guilty of bribing numerous people of high status and was considered to pose a risk to Australia’s national security. The country concluded that Xiangmo may be a part of the United Front Work Department – a Chinese intelligence organization that aims to establish favorable relations with notable foreign politicians through fraudulent means.
Needless to say, Star Entertainment’s past involvement with the billionaire does not help it clear its brand’s name.
Xiangmo May Have Used the Deposited Money for Briberies
While the story with Xiangmo dates to a few years ago, its resurgence in the Star Entertainment case increased suspicion towards the operator. To determine the Chinese billionaire’s involvement with Star, Caspar Conde cross-examined Kevin Houlihan, the gambling company’s general manager of financial crime and investigations.
Conde concluded that Xiangmo may have deposited over a billion but his losses were not huge when the overall sum is taken into mind. According to the investigator, the Chinese billionaire may have allowed other people to access his deposited funds either for gambling or other reasons. NSW’s Independent Commission Against Corruption concluded that a $100,000 bribe that Xiangmo had sent to Australia’s Labor Party in 2015 may have come from the funds he deposited in Star Sydney Casino.
Additional findings showed an email correspondence between Star Sydney’s compliance team and Micheil Brodie, ex-responsible gaming manager of the company. At that time, Brodie reassured the team that Xiangmo is a highly-valued customer who “is not convicted of a relevant crime” which would make it unacceptable to have him as a client.
Star Entertainment will continue as the company prepares to undergo a transformation. The operator just announced that John O’Neill will assume the role of an interim chief executive officer after Matt Bekier’s resignation. This move was also criticized by some analysts who believe it will do nothing more than line up O’Neill’s pockets.
Related Topics:
Yasmin is an accomplished iGaming and gaming journalist with over 10 years of experience writing for various publications. Her expertise spans the entire iGaming sector, traditional sports, and online poker. Yasmin's comprehensive knowledge of online gaming adds significant depth to our coverage, making her an invaluable asset to our team.
Must Read
Industry
September 12, 2025
Animo Launches Next-Gen Live Gaming with Animated Hosts on Stake
Industry
September 12, 2025
California Continues to Advance AB 831, SGLA Expresses Frustration
More Articles
Casino
September 18, 2025
Italy to Launch Ambitious Anti-Gambling Firewall
Casino
September 18, 2025
Romanian Regulator Shutters Two Illegal Sites
Casino
September 18, 2025
Wynn UAE Casino to Feature Crypto Payments & More
Casino
September 18, 2025
Poker Palace in North Las Vegas to Open Its Doors Again in 2026
Casino
September 18, 2025
Gang Who Posed as Detectives Locked Up for Recovery Scam
Casino
September 18, 2025
Times Square Casino Plan Falls Through Due to Broadway Opposition
Casino
September 18, 2025
Tourist in Las Vegas Shot by a Security Guard Armed Without Authorization
Casino
September 18, 2025
Ex-Gregg Township Official Jailed for $533K Gambling Embezzlement
Casino
September 17, 2025
Denmark Takes Harder Look at Gambling Regulation as 500K People Need Help
Lottery
September 17, 2025
California State Lottery Produces Four New Millionaires This Month
Casino
September 17, 2025
Melco Plans Private Hospital at Macau’s Studio City