Judge to decide penalty for Star Entertainment's money laundering breaches

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 27 Oct, 23:27 · Archive

A judge will decide what penalty Australia's largest casino company faces for money laundering and organised crime breaches.

Australia's largest listed casino company could face administration after a Federal Court judge decides on a penalty for historical money-laundering violations. Financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC launched legal action against The Star Entertainment Group in 2022, seeking a $400 million penalty for what it called 'manifest failures'. The company argues that any penalty exceeding $100 million would force it into liquidation.

The court heard that senior management failed to impose adequate anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism-financing controls. One man with known criminal links was allowed to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars through the casinos alongside other high-risk gamblers. Justice Cameron Moore will hand down his decision on Wednesday morning.

The Star, which owns casinos in Sydney and the Gold Coast and operates one in Brisbane, has faced years of scandals, licence suspensions and governance failures. US gaming giant Bally's Corp prevented the business from entering administration in April 2025, with its chair Soo Kim assuming the same role at Star. At the group's annual general meeting on Tuesday, Mr Kim said 'the fire is out, and now the rebuilding starts'. The company's former head Matthias Beikir was fined $700,000 in June for failing to inform the board of suspicious conduct by Chinese junket operator Suncity in 2018 and 2019.

How it is being reported

• Judge to set fate of casino giant after $400m lawsuitA judge is due to hand down his decision about how much Australia's biggest casino company will be penalised for money laundering and organised crime breaches.The West Australian · 27 Oct, 16:32
• Judge to set fate of casino giant Star Entertainment Group after $400m lawsuitA judge is due to hand down his decision about how much Australia's biggest casino company will be penalised for money laundering and organised crime breaches.The West Australian · 27 Oct, 16:32
• Judge to set fate of casino giant after $400m lawsuitA judge is due to hand down his decision about how much Australia's biggest casino company will be penalised for money laundering and organised crime breaches.Perth Now · 27 Oct, 16:32

In this story: The Star Entertainment Group · AUSTRAC · Bally's Corp · Justice Cameron Moore · Soo Kim · Matthias Beikir · Sydney · Gold Coast

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