The chief executive of the embattled Star Entertainment Group has announced he is stepping down, just days after Queensland cracked down on gambling.
Robbie Cooke was announced as the head of Star Group in October 2022, a week after a review into the company’s casino operations in Queensland found it was unsuitable to hold a casino licence.
The finding raised major questions about the future of Star’s Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos — including the Queen’s Wharf development in the state capital’s CBD.
Star Entertainment was dealt another blow this week, when Queensland parliament passed new laws to crack down on venues and minimise gambling-related harm in casinos.
That news followed $100 million in fines and a warning from then-attorney-general Shannon Fentiman to “get its house in order” in 2022, after the inquiry found Star had encouraged people excluded from NSW and Victorian casinos to gamble in Queensland.
In a statement, Star Group said Mr Cooke and the board came to the decision that a change in leadership was in the company’s best interests.
Mr Cooke said the decision was “exceptionally disappointing”, but that a change in leadership would provide the “best opportunity for the business to navigate the regulatory pressure it is facing”.
Leadership ‘not conducive’ to getting licence back: Star
Star Group also had its license to operate casinos in New South Wales revoked in 2022 after a damning report found evidence of money laundering, criminal infiltration, and large-scale fraud at the Star in Sydney.
It was hoped Mr Cooke’s appointment would place Star on track to regain licences in Queensland and New South Wales.
But last month the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) announced it would conduct a second inquiry, saying it was not satisfied the casino had done enough to address its failings.
The group’s statement said it believed Mr Cooke’s leadership was “not going to be conducive” to the NICC reinstating the casino licence.
Star Entertainment Group’s chairman, David Foster, will take on additional duties as executive chair while a search for a permanent replacement is conducted.
In the statement, Mr Foster praised Mr Cooke’s efforts at stabilising the group’s operations.
“We remain absolutely committed to being judged suitable to hold a casino licence in New South Wales and Queensland,” the statement reads.
Star Entertainment also announced its chief financial officer would step down after nine years with the company.
Christina Katsibouba will be succeeded by Neale O’Connell, whose experience includes six years as chief financial officer of Tatts Group.