The Star's last high roller

Things are finally looking up for The Star Entertainment Group. It’s only taken four chief executives, billions of dollars in lost market value, three boards, two embarrassing state inquiries and countless emergency funding arrangements, but it’s officially on the cusp of regaining the casino licences it lost after its historic anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism failings were exposed four years ago.[[And those four CEOs don't even include three interim CEOs in the period.]]

The ASX-listed casino business is expected to be given the green light to operate independently in two months time, when NSW’s casino regulator, Philip Crawford, will yet again be asked to weigh in on its remediation. The Queensland regulator will likely follow suit shortly after, so long as the company doesn’t do anything unexpected to derail its progress. 

"The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) is pleased with the genuine efforts management has displayed and is confident The Star is moving forward in the right direction towards achieving suitability," a spokesperson confirmed after questions from Rampart. 

Of course, there are still a bunch of hoops it needs to jump through as outlined in the 570 steps of the company’s remediation plan, but things certainly seem a lot more cordial between the regulator and the company since The Star’s former chief executive, Robbie Cooke, plotted with then chairman David Forster to oust the regulator’s man on the inside, Nick Weeks. Weeks came to the role from executive positions at the National Rugby League and Rugby Australia and his presence at The Star was met with initial hostility from investors as well as The Star’s then board and management.