Star Entertainment Fined A$260M Over Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Failures

A federal court in Australia has ordered The Star Entertainment Group to pay A$260 million (US$183 million) for breaching laws regarding anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF). The Star Brisbane casino resort is pictured in Queensland, Australia, in November 2025. The Star Entertainment has been fined A$260 million by a federal court. (Image: Shutterstock) Handing down his decision on Wednesday (Oct. 28), Justice Cameron Moore asserted that Star’s systemic inability to shield its gaming venues from organized crime and money laundering—operations suspected of funding terrorist networks—necessitated a substantial monetary penalty. A significant part of Star’s business was dependent upon turning a blind eye to customers who presented a high money laundering or terrorism-financing risk,” said Moore. Moore noted that there is a strong financial incentive to look the other way when it comes to AML/CTF provisions. “Casinos stand to benefit handsomely if the inflow of money, including cash, from domestic and overseas sources, can occur with limited friction and limited scrutiny,” Moore reasoned. Star Inquiries In 2021, Star Entertainment became the subject of state inquiries in New South Wales and Queensland regarding whether the casino was upholding AML/CTF regulations. The following year, The Star Sydney, The Star Gold Coast, and The Star Brisbane operator was fined A$200 million after the probes determined that the casinos failed to thwart money laundering and terrorism financing activities. AUSTRAC, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Center, applied to the federal court for civil penalty proceedings against Star Entertainment in November 2022. AUSTRAC asked the court for a $400 million judgment, while Star petitioned for a A$100 million fine. “The Court found The Star did not simply fail to complete the right checks. It allowed high-risk customers to gamble without properly establishing where their money came from and put profit over compliance on a large scale,” said AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas. “AUSTRAC will not tolerate companies putting profit over their obligations to the Australian community.” Star, which has undergone a corporate overhaul since the inquiries and is now controlled by US-based Bally’s Corporation, conceded during the federal court case that the company generated gross gaming revenue of more than A$1.3 billion from high-risk customers between November 2016 and November 2022. “Star continued to receive and profit from money that evidence available to it suggested was most likely from criminal activity and was being laundered,” Moore concluded. Star Response On Tuesday (Oct. 27), Star Entertainment Chairman Soo Kim, who also chairs Bally’s, addressed shareholders at the company’s annual general meeting. Kim said the company has become AML/CTF compliant since Bally’s takeover. “We have embraced the standards set by New South Wales and Queensland regulators for anti-money laundering, knowing our customer, and safer gambling that are the highest in the industry,” said Kim. Kim said the three Star casinos are now operating positively in terms of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and “cash is now building.” “Quite a different story than just nine months ago,” Kim declared. Speaking with the Australian Financial Review following Moore’s judgment, Kim said Star will be able to pay the A$260 million fine. The post Star Entertainment Fined A$260M Over Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Failures appeared first on Casino.org.