The public hearing into whether Crown’s casino rival Star Entertainment Group should retain its casino licence has claimed its first scalp with the company’s chief executive Matt Bekier announcing his resignation.
The Star says his decision “follows issues raised in the public hearings in connection with the review” which found evidence of widespread avoidance of money laundering laws.
Matt Bekier has stepped down from Star Entertainment Group.Credit:James Alcock
“While the review remains ongoing, Mr Bekier informed the board that as managing director and CEO he is accountable for the effectiveness and adequacy of the company’s processes, people and culture.“
The statement from the casino operator says his final departure date is yet to be determined.
The Star risks being found unsuitable to retain its Sydney casino licence. Similar issues at Crown led to the departure of its senior management and most of its board.
The NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority launched the review late last year to assess whether The Star is fit to hold its licence, and will probe allegations by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and 60 Minutes of money laundering, criminal infiltration and wide-scale fraud at the Pyrmont casino.
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The inquiry heard last week that Mr Bekier furiously rejected an audit that found his company was failing to tackle money laundering at its casinos, before the group re-hired its authors in an attempt to water down their damning report.
Star later erroneously claimed legal privilege over the 2018 KPMG report to hide it from the financial crimes watchdog, the inquiry heard.
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