The Star Entertainment Group

The share price saw a catastrophic 40% sell-off between 8 and 11 January 2025, becoming the worst performing business on the ASX, only selling for over a dime. This followed a release of a very bleak financial report over the previous quarter, particularly that it burned through $100 million in the quarter, and fears the company has a 50-50 chance of collapsing into voluntary administration by the end of February. Angus Hewitt, an equity analyst at Morningstar, Inc., cites weak consumer sentiment and restrictions such as mandatory carded play as significant factors. There are also fears that its portfolio will be divested or shuttered, with the Queen's Wharf, Brisbane precinct opening just the previous August, as well as that the company collapsing will wipe out investors or workers. The Queensland Government has said that it is in talks to support the South East Queensland workers should something happen, but has ruled out intervening on the actual company. Two out of three Star properties operate in Queensland.

The share price bumped up to $0.13 on 13 January after mystery speculators bought up shares of the company, amid an otherwise dismal day on the stock market after inflationary revelations.

On 17 January as part of last minute negotiations with stakeholders to prevent collapse, the company has asked the NSW and Queensland Governments for tax breaks - which they have previously denied the company - and placed itself in safe harbour, a move that protects the directors from insolvent trading whilst they grapple with refinancing the company without using an external administrator.

By February 2025, it was reported by Sky News Australia that Star Entertainment “could enter administration within a week”. The company has been unable to secure enough cash to offset it’s liquidity crisis. Ross Greenwood who is the business editor at Sky News reported “Sources close to the financially troubled Star Entertainment have revealed to us that the company could enter administration within a week as its cash reserves again run dry”. The company would need an immediate cash injection in order to remain solvent. Later that month Oaktree Capital Management offered a $650 million loan to help refinance the company's debt.

Trading halt

On 28 February 2025, Star Entertainment Group was forced into a brief trading halt "pending a further announcement", after not posting its overdue half-yearly financial results until it received "liquidity proposals [which are feasible in] determining whether the Company can continue as a going concern...and the ASX determines that the Company’s shares should be reinstated to quotation [on Monday]".

On Monday 3 March, the company was placed into a compulsory second trading halt by the ASX after not posting its half-yearly earnings in the end, putting such deals in jeopardy as a result and thousands of jobs at risk as a collapse is potentially imminent. It reportedly has spent $50 million in a month over just $75 million cash at hand in the previous report. The company is reported to be waiting for access to proceeds from its asset sales, which are currently waiting for state approval, as well as a separate "bridge loan", before it can refinance itself. If it cannot get the funds, it will be forced into administration. With the company asking for financial support from the states, the states have reiterated their hesitancy to contribute, with NSW premier Chris Minns saying they are not using their taxpayer money on casinos rather than roads, EDs and schools.

The company was at risk of entering administration in early March before securing a $200 million loan. The company was also able to sell Queen's Warf, receiving multi million dollar installments and fees to stave off administration, following conflicting reports of collapsed negotiations.

In May 2024, it was reported that multiple suitors were looking to acquire Star Entertainment and their assets. Hard Rock International was said to be weighing a bid for the struggling company, but they subsequently stated that they were not looking into acquiring Star Entertainment.

On 29 January 2025, as part of possible sales of non-core assets of the company, the company announced it would sell The Star Sydney Event Centre and unspecified spaces within the complex to Foundation Theatres in order to raise $60 million. The sale of the Star Sydney Events Centre was complete in April 2025.

On 10 February 2025 Star announced it knocked back 'several' inquiries from prospective foreign investors for Queen's Warf, citing that they undervalued the asset, but is in talks with CTFE and FEC on whether to relinquish its stake in Queen's Warf. Later in February, it was reported that Blackstone Group was mulling an acquisition of Star Entertainment Group. Blackstone already is in the global casino business and owns Australian rival Crown Resorts so it may not go through on anti-competition concerns, though reports speculate authorities' stance may be soften in this special case. The group has particular interest in the company's gambling machine assets. It is also specualated Blackstone will only intervene if the company collapses.

In order to attempt to keep Star afloat, the company attempted to sell its stake in The Star Brisbane. The company had also secured a $200 million loan. Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium would have assumed Star’s stake in The Star Brisbane and will also assume all debts incurred by the property. Chris Wallin was also planning to give Star Entertainment the $200 million loan which would have been intended to help keep the company solvent for the time being. On 7 March the company agreed to sell its stake in Queen’s Wharf for only $53m in installments, but the deal collapsed.

Controversies

In 2021 a joint report by the Sydney Morning Herald the Age, and the television program 60 Minutes, found that Star management had been warned that its anti-money laundering controls were inadequate and that between 2014 and 2021 Star had attempted to recruit high rollers who were allegedly linked to criminal or foreign-influence activities. In response to the report Star stated that it was "concerned by a number of assertions within the media reports that it considers misleading." And also stated that it would take steps to address the allegations with Australian authorities. Following the report shareholders began forming a class action lawsuit against Star and inquiries were launched by Queensland's, Western Australia's, Victoria's, and New South Wales's state gaming regulators.

On 13 September 2022 the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) published a report finding The Star unsuitable to hold its Sydney casino license because of its conduct relating to money laundering risks. It had 14 days to respond. The company was fined A$100m ($62m) as a result. Star's gambling license was suspended and operations were placed under a new manager Nicholas Weeks.

In late 2022, the Queensland Government also found Star unsuitable to hold its dual state casino licences. Former Court of Appeal Judge Robert Gotterson conducted an independent review of the matter. Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman found Star misled regulators and failed in its anti-money laundering duties. The company has been served a statement of claim for a securities class action in the Supreme Court of Victoria. The class action alleges that Star breached disclosure obligations and acted against the best interests of the shareholders. Star was fined $100 million on 9 December 2022. Casino licences for the Treasury Brisbane and the Star Gold Coast will be suspended for 90 days, with this action deferred until 1 December 2023. The deferment gives Star an opportunity to remediate its management and operations. In addition to these issues with their properties in Queensland, in New South Wales, The Star, Sydney has been under government supervision. This will remain in effect through September 2025 at the earliest.

In April 2024, the chair for The Star Star Entertainment Group Limited David Foster resigned from his post less than a week after giving evidence to the ongoing inquiry into the license suitability of the company's The Star Sydney property. Foster reportedly found his efforts increasingly frustrated by office politics and, in particular, the relationship between the company's Chief Executive Officer, Robbie Cooke, and the independent manager appointed to help implement an official state-mandated remediation plan, Nicholas Weeks. Foster's departure came after he told the official inquiry his company was currently unsuitable to operate a casino in New South Wales. There was ‘not a scenario’ in which it would be able to run the property unsupervised. He was additionally quizzed over a series of ‘heat of the moment’ texts with Cooke in which the pair allegedly discussed getting rid of Weeks by having shareholders launch a class-action lawsuit against the government-appointed manager.

As of January 2025, AUSTRAC is currently calculating a fine for breaching counterterrorism and anti-money laundering laws. The company has deposited $150 million for the fine, and it is reported that shareholder Bruce Mathieson is refusing to pour more money into the company until a fine is agreed upon.

On 10 February 2025, ASIC is proceeding to sue the former board of the company in the High Court of Australia for failing to keep track of money laundering. It already settled with and withdrew CFO Harry Theodore on misleading the National Australia Bank on its ATMs being used to funnel the money, with the penalty yet to be calculated.