This Month
Star was warned of lack of executive experience before NSW inquiry
A report from special manager Nick Weeks blames regulatory and financial pressure as reasons for a lack of good quality candidates on Star’s board.
- Zoe Samios
Class action claims Aristocrat breaking gambling laws
Lightning Link, Heart of Vegas and other social casino games are a lucrative and growing business. But some users allege the company is being misleading.
- Zoe Samios and Primrose Riordan
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Steve McCann takes his biggest punt with embattled casino giant Star
As far as turnarounds go, this is bigger than Boral, Bapcor and Seven West Media combined. “I had room for one more,” he says when asked why he took the job.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Exclusive
- The Star Entertainment Group
Gaming no longer ‘glorious part of the business’: Star boss
Steve McCann says the company’s casino business might never return to the boom times and its future is likely to lie in its restaurants and hotels.
- Anthony Macdonald and Zoe Samios
June
- Updated
- Bruce Mathieson
Casino regulators clear way for Bruce Mathieson to buy up more of Star
The decision by NSW and Queensland authorities means the billionaire can increase his stake in the gaming operator from the 9.7 per cent he currently holds.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
- Updated
- The Star Entertainment Group
Former Lendlease boss Steve McCann takes top job at Star Entertainment
The businessman also ran the casino group’s rival, Crown Resorts, before it was sold to Blackstone. He will receive a $2.5 million sign-on bonus.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Star pays through the nose for a bit of McCann magic
The gaming group’s new boss held all the cards in negotiating his arrival. Now shareholders need him to negotiate as effectively on their behalf.
- Anthony Macdonald
A Las Vegas residency is a nice little earner for top stars
When flamboyant pianist Liberace settled in for a prolonged stay in 1955, it started a trend that’s proved lucrative for performers and the city as a whole.
- Christopher Palmeri
High-roller exodus rolls on at struggling Star casinos
Star says its main gaming floors are attracting customers, but not enough to offset dramatic declines from its premium gaming rooms.
- Zoe Samios
SkyCity suspends dividends, cuts guidance as troubles mount
The operator of casinos in Adelaide and Auckland warned of delays in major projects and a “challenging economic environment”, sending shares tumbling.
- Zoe Samios
- Updated
- Crown Resorts
Ex-Virgin boss John Borghetti appointed Crown Resorts chairman
Bill McBeath, a veteran US casino executive who ran The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, will step aside but remain on the Blackstone-owned gaming group’s board.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
- Investigation
- Decision making
At Star, only the executives got a Christmas party
At an end-of-year dinner with chief executive Robbie Cooke, the casino group’s top managers learnt they were in a war with their regulator.
- Aaron Patrick
Gold Coast prequel to Star’s Hard Rock overture
A storm erupted last month about Hard Rock’s ties to a deal for casino operator Star. This was not the first time such perplexity had emerged, it can be revealed.
- Liam Walsh and Zoe Samios
May
Star Entertainment suitor claims it kept Hard Rock in the loop
Two firms – HDI-BB and Hotel Development International – confirmed on Monday that they approached Star in March with a turnaround strategy.
- Zoe Samios and Liam Walsh
The Star suitor and the fight over home in exclusive suburb
There hasn’t been confusion like this around casinos since “The Hangover”.
- Liam Walsh
Star may never be suitable to hold Sydney casino licence, inquiry told
In his closing remarks, assisting counsel Caspar Conde rejected a number of assertions made by Star about its suitability.
- Zoe Samios
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Star bidders need to answer one big question
That the stricken Star would attract potential bidders is no surprise. But there’s one question buyers will struggle to answer.
- James Thomson
Star suitor Hard Rock knows a thing or two about the mass market
If a deal proceeds, there’s every chance casinos in Sydney and Queensland will look very different. Just look at their guitar-shaped Florida palace.
- Primrose Riordan and Zoe Samios
Former Star CEO accuses board of being involved in regulator stoush
The barrister representing Robbie Cooke has told an inquiry the company’s directors “cannot escape” - they were part of the rift with the NSW casino authorities.
- Zoe Samios
Star shares surge after casino confirms Hard Rock interest
The company has “received inbound interest” from several parties even as it faces the loss of its lucrative Sydney gaming licence.
- Zoe Samios
