Queensland Proposes Casino Control Amendment Bill to Strengthen Regulations
Date: 2023-10-27 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: CASINO, EVENTS
The Queensland government has taken a significant step towards strengthening its gambling regulations with the introduction of the Casino Control and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023. This bill is in response to the suspension of The Star Entertainment Group’s license, following the Gotterson Review in October 2022, which found The Star "unsuitable" to hold a license in Queensland.
What Does the Bill Outline?
The bill primarily emphasizes safer gambling practices and tighter control of casino operations. It mandates carded play in Queensland casinos, requiring players to pre-load money onto a card to gamble, making player activity easier to track. Furthermore, the bill introduces a pre-commitment system that enforces certain rules, including mandatory breaks and loss limits.
The bill empowers law enforcement to issue exclusion notices to individuals who pose a threat in a casino. Casino operators must swiftly issue these notices. A significant aspect of this legislation is the imposition of a supervision levy on casino operators, which will be determined by the minister each financial year.
Queensland's Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Yvette D’Ath, emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring casinos operate under strict laws that prioritize integrity and minimize gambling harm. She also highlighted the importance of these reforms in modernizing gambling and casino laws for the future.
Troubled History at The Star
The investigation into The Star began in June 2022, prompted by concerns over anti-money laundering and player safety. Former judge Robert Gotterson led the review, specifically looking into China UnionPay payments. The Star was found to have misled banks regarding these transactions. Subsequently, the casino was issued show cause notices in November 2022.
It's worth noting that Queensland isn't the only state to investigate The Star, as the operator has faced issues in other regions, leading to license suspensions and a classification as unsuitable to hold licenses in New South Wales.
