Matt Bekier announced his resignation from the Chief Executive Officer position at Star Entertainment Group after the Australian gambling operator faced allegations of misconduct during a public inquiry.
Mr Bekier’s departure from the gambling company’s board will take place with immediate effect. As revealed by Star Entertainment in an official statement at the beginning of the week, his executive responsibilities will be transferred in an orderly manner.
As Casino Guardian already reported, an inquiry into the gambling and casino operator’s suitability to operate its casino in Sydney has heard allegations of misconduct, including masking gambling transactions with Chinese patrons’ CUP debit cards as hotel expenses worth a total of AU$900 million. Furthermore, the investigation found that Star Entertainment tried to avoid regulatory scrutiny and assist foreign high-roller customers, mostly from mainland China, bringing in millions of dollars in the country to spend in local casinos.
Furthermore, the Australian gambling giant was also accused of setting up a secret gambling room with Suncity, a junket operator with links to criminal organisations. As reported by the Australian Financial Review, Star Entertainment was also found to have hidden the illegal cash cage of Suncity from the gambling watchdog of New South Wales (NSW).
Bekier Becomes the First Significant Executive to Quit from Star Entertainment Since the Beginning of the Inquiry
Matt Bekier is the first significant figure linked to Star Entertainment to step down as a result of the investigation that started public hearings on March 17th. Another major gambling operator in Australia and the closest competitor of Star Entertainment, Crown Resorts, has been found guilty of similar misconduct, which resulted in a lot of turbulence for the company, involving a comprehensive reshuffle of top executives and directors and massive restructuring of the group.
In its official statement from March 28th, Star Entertainment revealed that Mr Bekier informed the company’s Board of Directors that, as a CEO and managing director, he was the one accountable for the adequacy and the effectiveness of the gambling operator’s policies, processes, culture and people. According to him, stepping down from his position was the right thing to do as an act of taking responsibility for the company’s misconduct.
Although the public inquiry into the suitability of Star Entertainment to keep the operating permit for its Sydney casino is in its third week only, the investigators have already heard a number of damning revelations regarding the gambling venue’s operations. A week ago, the Star inquiry heard that Mr Bekier rejected some audit findings that suggested that the gambling operator was failing to address some concerns associated with the money of some allegedly shady gamblers.
As Casino Guardian reported, a similar inquiry at Crown Resorts’ operations ended up wiping out the majority of the company’s board and senior management and found the Australian gambling giant unsuitable to hold the operating licence for its Barangaroo casino in Sydney. Only days ago, the Western Australian Royal Commission found it unfit to run its casino resort in Perth.
- Author
Olivia Cole
