Report reveals criminal underbelly at Star casino

Report reveals criminal underbelly at Star casino
By NSW political reporter Liz Foschia and staff

An investigation into Sydney's Star casino has revealed police concerns about criminal activity inside the gambling precinct.

Lawyer Gail Furness SC has completed a review of The Star to see if the casino's operators remain suitable holders of the licence.

A review is conducted every five years and provided to the state's Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority.

"I have concluded that The Star remains suitable to hold the casino licence and that it is in the public interest that the casino licence should continue in force," Ms Furness says in her report.

But she has also raised several concerns, topped by criminal activity at the casino.

Ms Furness says the Asian Crime Squad has claimed many of its targets are among The Star's top 100 gamblers.

The squad also continues to receive information about money laundering, loan sharking and the recruitment of people by criminal gangs at the casino.

"It is important that systems are in place to detect transactions which may be suspicious of money laundering taking place," the report says.

Ms Furness has recommended the creation of an offence of loan sharking.

"In my view that would assist in action being taken against those who use the casino as a venue to take advantage of the vulnerabilities of gamblers," she says in the report.

But the report has found no evidence of systemic corruption involving the casino's operators.

Ms Furness says she is satisfied The Star has suitable policies and procedures in place to ensure the casino remains free from criminal influence.

Another issue raised in the report is dealing with people who have been banned from the casino, with 1,279 patrons barred over the past five years.

In the same period 2,177 people who had been excluded were caught in the casino by management.

Ms Furness says facial recognition technology should be considered to catch barred patrons as they enter the casino.

On the lighter side, a downward trend in the number of people refused entry has been put down to lowering The Star's dress standards.

Patrons wearing thongs are no longer turned away.