Image: The Star Sydney. Image: Facebook
A Sydney casino worker and another man have been charged with allegedly rigging several roulette games last year, pocketing more than $ 25,000.
According to police, the pair allegedly worked together to rig roulette bets during September and October last year.
The Star casino worker and his associate were charged with facilitating “conduct that corrupts a betting outcome of the event” and “obtain/attempt to benefit in a casino by dishonest means.”
Last October, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad, launched Strike Force Antree to investigate corrupt and illegal activities within NSW casinos.
The two men are alleged to have moved bets on roulette games on multiple occasions after the games had concluded.
Both of the men were issued future court attendance notices to appear before Downing Centre Local Court. The Star casino worker and his associate are set to face court later this year, on Friday, November 1.
The Star Entertainment Group
The Star Entertainment Group, an ASX-listed company that owns and operates The Star Sydney, The Star Gold Coast, and Treasury Brisbane reported a net profit of $9.1 million for the half-year period ending December 2023.
Earlier this month, The Star announced that it would be selling the former Treasury Brisbane Casino building to Griffith University for $67.5 million. The sale, expected to settle around September 27, will net The Star approximately AU$60.7 million after adjustments.
The NSW Independent Casino Commission recently issued the Star with a show cause notice as to why it should not lose its licence and be fined up to $ 100 million after a report found it was not fit to hold a licence.
Long-term shift in gambling behaviour
Earlier this year, a study by The Australian National University (ANU) found that there had been a noticeable long-term shift in gambling behaviour, with a growing number of people turning to online gambling following the post-pandemic surge in 2023.
The Australian National University (ANU) study, analysed data from April 2019 to January 2024, surveying participants about their gambling activities over the past year and their overall well-being.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Aino Suomi highlighted that the research offered a key overview of gambling trends in Australia.
“While the number of Australians who gamble is similar to 12 months ago – 60.3 per cent compared to 61.3 per cent – the number of individuals gambling at risky levels increased from 11.6 per cent to 13.6 per cent,” she said.
“Online gambling was related to younger age, male gender, living in single parent households, higher likelihood of risky gambling, including more frequent gambling, as well as reports of loneliness,” the report found.
“If we have more data on this group of “affected others”, we can help understand how to best support them.”
