Finance
Star Entertainment posts wider loss as regulatory squeeze, carded play weigh
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 30, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 30, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Star Entertainment reports increased losses due to regulatory challenges and mandatory carded play, impacting financial stability.
(Reuters) -Australia's Star Entertainment on Wednesday reported a deeper quarterly loss sequentially, underscoring the prolonged pressure on the casino operator from regulatory crackdowns and the shift to mandatory carded play.
The embattled gaming group posted a fourth-quarter loss before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of A$27 million ($17.58 million), compared with a loss of A$24 million in the prior quarter.
Star has been reeling from a series of regulatory inquiries into alleged breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws, coupled with a broader downturn in gaming revenue.
A recent move by the New South Wales government to ban cash transactions in casinos — though not in pubs and clubs — has further impacted the company's earnings potential.
The broader casino sector in Australia has yet to recover from the lasting effects of COVID-era lockdowns, border closures and now rising interest costs.
Star, in particular, has endured years of instability — marked by two Bell inquiries, the departure of its CEO and chairman, and a near-collapse that required urgent capital support.
On Wednesday, the company confirmed that its Sydney casino licence remains suspended. It plans to make a formal submission to the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission on August 31 as part of efforts to regain regulatory approval.
($1 = 1.5356 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee and Adwitiya Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
Star Entertainment reported a fourth-quarter loss before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of A$27 million ($17.58 million). This is an increase from a loss of A$24 million in the prior quarter.
Star has been under scrutiny due to a series of regulatory inquiries into alleged breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws.
The New South Wales government has banned cash transactions in casinos, which has further affected Star Entertainment's earnings potential.
The broader casino sector in Australia is struggling to recover from the effects of COVID-era lockdowns, border closures, and rising interest costs.
Star confirmed that its Sydney casino license remains suspended, and it plans to submit a formal request to the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission.
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