Australia's SkyCity Adelaide casino faces independent review led by former Supreme Court judge

South Australian authorities announced the launch of an independent review of Adelaide’s SkyCity casino, as a consequence of similar inquiries taking place into casinos at an interstate level. Retired Supreme Court judge and former royal commissioner Brian Martin AO QC will lead the inquiry ordered by the commissioner for consumer and business affairs, Dini Soulio. 

Soulio said commissions of inquiry into casinos had been undertaken in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and Western Australia and a further inquiry was about to begin in Queensland. “Inquiries to date have highlighted significant failings on the part of Crown Resorts as operators of Crown Casinos”, he said, as reported by ABC News Australia. Star Entertainment Group is currently being subject to a review in New South Wales where “significant failings have been identified”, Soulio stated. 

Former Supreme Court Judge Brian Martin.

New Zealand-based SkyCity Entertainment Group operates five casino properties in New Zealand and Australia. In 2021, an investigation on SkyCity began by financial crime watchdog AUSTRAC over serious non-compliance issues related to money-launderng and counter-terrorism financing laws in its Adelaide operations. 

In a statement issued to the ASX, SkyCity claimed AUSTRAC had identified concerns about SkyCity Adelaide’s management of high-risk customers and “politically exposed” people. It also said AUSTRAC’s concerns are related to “ongoing customer due diligence” and adopting, maintaining and complying with an anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing program. 

Soulio referred to Martin as “eminently qualified” to inquire into the casino. “Mr Martin is a highly respected member of the legal profession. He has conducted reviews of key criminal justice policies in South Australia including reforms to the handling of major indictable offenses and the state’s sentencing discount scheme. I have every confidence he will deliver a report to help us ensure that South Australians can have confidence in the way that the Adelaide Casino is operating."

In a statement to the stock exchange, SkyCity said it would fully cooperate with the review and any requests for information and documents. The report is due to be completed by the start of February.

Robert Gotterson.

This week, it was also unveiled that former Appeal Court Justice Robert Gotterson AO was appointed to lead an external three-month review starting July into The Star's operations in Queensland to decide if it is fit to run its casinos in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. 

The inquiry will have the power to directly question Star employees or other relevant people, take submissions and hold public hearings. The probe will look at the casinos’ commitment to anti-money laundering responsibilities, management of VIP patrons, efforts to help Chinese nationals bypass gambling restrictions, exclusions of banned patrons and approach to harm minimization.