**The Star Entertainment Group’s Licensing Decision Deferred by Queensland Government**
The Queensland Government in Australia has announced a delay in the suspension of The Star Gold Coast’s casino license until March 31, 2025. The government has emphasized that The Star must urgently implement essential remedial actions to meet set expectations.
Additionally, Nicolas Weeks will continue as the Special Manager for The Star Gold Coast until June 30, 2025. This decision allows authorities to evaluate The Star’s progress on its updated remediation plan.
Originally, the casino’s license suspension was scheduled for 90 days, starting December 20, 2024. Deb Frecklington, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, highlighted the government’s commitment to maintaining high standards of integrity for casino operations and ensuring transparency in the regulatory process. The government intends to publish the Special Manager’s report and the assessment results after the March 2025 decision.
The Queensland Government views the extension of Weeks’ role as crucial to this process. In February next year, an evaluation will review The Star’s advancements in areas such as cultural reform, safer gambling, risk management, financial crime, and governance. The findings will inform the government about whether to proceed with suspending the casino’s license.
Frecklington reiterated the government’s demand for The Star to meet its expectations without compromising integrity and community safety. The urgency of remediation actions is stressed, with warnings that any missed targets could result in license suspension, and no further deferrals should be presumed.
Recently, The Star successfully secured all necessary regulatory approvals for the appointment of Steve McCann as its Group CEO and Managing Director.