Earlier this year,as the casino faced allegations of money laundering and criminal infiltration at the inquiry into its suitability to hold a NSW casino licence,NSW Treasurer Matt Kean warned that he would pursue The Star for any unpaid taxes.
After an internal review,The Star has written to Kean advising that an initial investigation revealed compliance with its residency check standard operating procedures was “frequently lacking”.
However,the casino group told the government that its review did not find evidence to suggest there was a deliberate or systemic practice of encouraging casino patrons to change their residency status.
Under gambling tax rebate rules,a rebate player is a junket or premium player who does not live in NSW or has not resided there for more than 183 days in any given 12-month period.
The NSW Independent Liquor&Gaming Authority launched the review before Adam Bell,SC,last year following revelations byThe Sydney Morning Herald,The Age and60 Minutes of alleged money laundering,links to organised crime and fraud at the Pyrmont casino.
In April,the Star inquiry heard that the casinoallegedly underpaid $2.5 million in NSW state taxes in 2020 by failing to properly categorise gamblers as overseas or Australian residents.