ASX: SGR: Star back on the brink as Brisbane casino deal collapses

Xingchun Wang has spent more than $38 million buying shares in Star, which last week warned it was running out of money and could be weeks away from collapse if it did not secure additional financing. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Now the chances of losing it all have been turned back onto one of Australia’s biggest Richard Casino license operators. “Traditionally, probity checks have taken many months for new operators in casinos across the different state jurisdictions,” Mr Jones said. Swinburne University law and corporate governance specialist Helen Bird told ABC’s News Channel it seemed “more than likely” the company would tip into voluntary administration.
Don’t worry, though – you’re not locked in, and can cancel your auto-renewal at any time before each ‘anniversary’ date without question or penalty. Sign Up for Take Stock Investment news, stock ideas, and more, straight to your inbox. The stock has been crushed, but one major broker thinks the worst may be behind it. In a report to clients, analyst Matt Ryan suggested that the Sydney Ville Resort casino welcome offer property could be valued as low as $8 million, free slot demo 2026 according to The Australian.
star sydney casino self exclusion continues to face cost challenges that include the multimillion-dollar legal bills of its former board members who are now before the Federal Court facing civil action by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The transaction structure and specific terms “remain unclear” said Far East, which will receive an $18 million break fee from Star if the deal fails. The agreement, first reported in The Australian Financial Review, is still subject to approval from Star’s regulators and lenders, according to Far East. “It has only very recently turned its attention to dealing with challenges that should have been prioritised earlier,” NICC chief commissioner Philip Crawford said.
“Star put out a notice to staff on Friday assuring staff that they’ll be paid this week, but that’s yet to be seen, obviously,” Mr Jones told Radio National Breakfast. NSW and Queensland governments said on Friday their main concern was to ensure jobs were protected. The 2022 inquiry determined that The Star Sydney had failed to protect itself from being used by criminal gangs to launder money in private high-roller junket rooms. It has only very recently turned its attention to dealing with challenges that should have been prioritized earlier,” NICC chief commissioner Philip Crawford said.
A 2022 NSW inquiry found damning evidence of money laundering and counter-terrorism failings at the groups’ Sydney casino while a 2024 probe found more breaches. The litecoin casino no wagering bonus 2026 group was once worth billions of dollars but has since been slapped with fines totalling more than $210 million and licence suspensions after money laundering allegations. The Star has been in a trading halt since the end of February after being unable to file its half-year financial report without a refinancing plan to save it. Owned by American financier Soo Kim, a self-described corporate fireman, Bally’s specializes in rescuing casinos from financial distress and turning them profitable. The group’s board will now seek for all shareholders to agree unanimously to the deal as it is within their best interests and will unlock the remaining Bally’s contribution, the ASX statement said. Star is exploring a possible injection of $100 million by its largest shareholder Bruce Mathieson and if this occurs, Bally’s contribution would drop to $200 million.
Shares are currently swapping hands at 25.5 cents per share, a far cry from the $4 per share range Star fetched pre-pandemic. Grattan’s modelling shows that Australians who draw down their super at the minimum rate when they retire will leave the equivalent of 65 per cent of their original super balance unspent by the age of 92. The report you reference is from the Grattan Institute, which highlights that many retirees are net savers, with their super balances growing for decades after they retire, for fear of outliving their savings.
The operator had planned to sell its 50 per cent stake in the Brisbane complex to its business partners, but the talks have broken down. The casino giant has received the last tranche of a $300 million investment from American online casino ROI 2026 giant Bally’s Corporation and the billionaire Mathieson family. Ward has run the struggling casino operator since 2024, guiding it during one of its most difficult periods. The gaming sector carries a set of constant risks including tax increases, ESG risks, and heightened regulatory scrutiny.
E-Commerce Resources has a market capitalisation of $560 million, which puts the value of Wang’s stake at around $280 million. His private company, Winsway Resources, is registered in the British Virgin Islands. Rather than an attempted rescue, it looks like a $35 million punt from a guy from Macau who probably doesn’t have any inside running on whether this casino group will survive. The sovereign wealth fund has warned of a disconnect between executive pay and the performance of many ASX companies.