• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Wednesday 4 June 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Questions raised over failure of Queensland probity checks into Star Entertainment Group partner Chow Tai Fook’s alleged organized crime links

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Tue 23 Aug 2022 at 04:38
Hong Kong’s Far East Consortium sees gaming revenue rise 4.6% in FY20

The Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development.

116
SHARES
2.9k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Public hearings into Star Entertainment Group’s Queensland casino operations, starting today, will examine how the state government approved a key partner in its AU$3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development despite known links to organized crime syndicates in Macau.

Australian media outlet ABC Investigations this week raised questions over Star’s relationship with Chow Tai Fook – the Hong Kong-listed jewelry giant with close ties to the late Stanley Ho’s casino empire and Alvin Chau’s Suncity Group. Chow Tai Fook and Hong Kong development giant Far East Consortium each hold a 4.99% stake in Star and a 25% stake in the Queen’s Wharf project, due to open next year.

In particular, the investigation raises questions as to how probity checks conducted into Chow Tai Fook failed to uncover the company’s links to companies blacklisted by regulators around the world, including south of the border in NSW. The jewelry giant is headed by Henry Cheng, who owns a 10% interest in Stanley Ho’s STDM inherited from his father and long-time associate of Ho, Cheng Yu-tu. STDM is majority owner of Macau casino concessionaire SJM Holdings, which counts Chow Tai Fook’s Patrick Tsang among its Board of Directors.

In Vietnam, Chow Tai Fook and Suncity Group are two of the three investors in Hoiana, an integrated resort located near Hoi An and opened in mid-2020.

ABC Investigations also found direct business links between Chow Tai Fook and renowned triad boss Wan Kuok Koi, popularly known as “Broken Tooth”.

Despite Chow Tai Fook failing probity checks in NSW in 1987, and pulling out of a later bid to avoid similar scrutiny, Queensland officials told ABC Investigations that they had found no evidence of criminal links before approving the company’s investment in Star in 2016.

Queensland Attorney General Shannon Fentiman, who recently announced today’s inquiry into Star following a similar review held in NSW recently, said the government had “worked very closely with the Hong Kong police, other international regulators and also sought advice from the New South Wales and Queensland Police” – describing their checks as “extensive” before they found the jewelry giant suitable.

Former Queensland auditor-general Len Scanlan, who was probity adviser on the project, said, “I have no recollection of those [allegations]. It is news to me,” he said. “I think it would have been [a red flag] for anyone, to be honest.”

Former Queensland premier Campbell Newman, who kicked off the Queen’s Wharf process before his government was beaten by the current Annastacia Palaszczuk government at the 2015 election, said he was never made award of Chow Tai Fook’s connections.

“The Newman government should have been made aware and the Palaszczuk government frankly shouldn’t have made the decision they’ve made because these things were there and they’re discoverable,” he said.

“I’m quite prepared to say I believe the process was tainted.

“The revelations I am now seeing are appalling. It disturbs me that both in Queensland and interstate, regulators have not got to the bottom of these things and it’s time that we know why.”

Queensland’s inquiry into Star began in July but has so far taken place behind closed doors.

When first announcing the inquiry in June, Fentiman said the government was not looking to halt the Queen’s Wharf development.

“I’m not going to pre-empt any of the findings of a review, but even if a casino is found to not be suitable there are things we can put in place provisionally to make sure they do meet all the expectations of the regulator and the community,” she said.

RelatedPosts

Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim talks after deal sealed to acquire Australia’s Star Entertainment

Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim talks after deal sealed to acquire Australia’s Star Entertainment

Wed 9 Apr 2025 at 06:16
China-owned contractor of Chow Tai Fook’s Baha Mar ordered to pay US$1.6 billion to original owner for “many acts of fraud”

New York appellate court dismisses China Construction America’s appeal in US$1.6 billion Baha Mar fraud case

Wed 9 Apr 2025 at 05:59
Trade union warns massively increased casino pokies tax in NSW will cost jobs

Pub baron Bruce Mathieson agrees additional AU$100 million Star investment, reduces Bally’s contribution to AU$200 million

Wed 9 Apr 2025 at 05:40
Inside Thai IRs

Thailand to postpone parliamentary debate on casino bill

Tue 8 Apr 2025 at 18:57
Load More
Tags: Alvin ChauAustraliacasinoChow Tai FookHenry ChenginquiryQueen's wharf brisbaneStar Entertainment GroupSuncity Group
Share46Share8
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – The real reason Philippines casino revenues are down

Editorial – The real reason Philippines casino revenues are down

by Ben Blaschke
Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 23:04

After enjoying a post-COVID surge in gaming revenues at its licensed casinos, the Philippines has hit a rocky patch. In...

Inside Thai IRs

Inside Thai IRs

by Andrew W Scott and Ben Blaschke
Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 22:59

No time to read this whole article? Here are the bullet points! With passage of Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill through...

Resorts World Las Vegas – Lighting up the north

Resorts World Las Vegas – Lighting up the north

by Andrew W Scott and Ben Blaschke
Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 22:52

Inside Asian Gaming recently visited Genting’s American icon Resorts World Las Vegas to take a closer look at a property...

A baccarat perspective

A baccarat perspective

by Ryan Hong-Wai Ho
Sun 30 Mar 2025 at 22:37

In the first of a two-part series, Ryan Ho explores how gaming innovations and market changes have shaped the prominence...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
Nustar
Jumbo

Related Posts

Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim talks after deal sealed to acquire Australia’s Star Entertainment

Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim talks after deal sealed to acquire Australia’s Star Entertainment

by Newsdesk
Wed 9 Apr 2025 at 06:16

Star Entertainment Group confirmed Monday it had entered into a binding term sheet with US casino operator Bally’s Corp to take control of the company as part of a US$300 million (US$180 million) deal. The term sheet, comprising a multi-tranche...

China-owned contractor of Chow Tai Fook’s Baha Mar ordered to pay US$1.6 billion to original owner for “many acts of fraud”

New York appellate court dismisses China Construction America’s appeal in US$1.6 billion Baha Mar fraud case

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 9 Apr 2025 at 05:59

A New York court has dismissed an appeal by China Construction America, Inc (CCA) against a Supreme Court ruling in October requiring it to pay US$1.6 billion to the original owner of Bahamas casino resort Baha Mar for committing “many acts...

Trade union warns massively increased casino pokies tax in NSW will cost jobs

Pub baron Bruce Mathieson agrees additional AU$100 million Star investment, reduces Bally’s contribution to AU$200 million

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 9 Apr 2025 at 05:40

Star Entertainment Group’s largest individual shareholder Investment Holdings Pty Ltd has entered into a binding term sheet with US casino operator Bally’s Corp that will see it subscribe for AU$100 million (US$60 million) in convertible bonds, reducing in the process...

RWLV names former MGM executive Greg Shulman as EVP of International Marketing

RWLV names former MGM executive Greg Shulman as EVP of International Marketing

by Newsdesk
Wed 9 Apr 2025 at 05:35

Genting Group’s US flagship Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) has announced the appointment of casino industry veteran Greg Shulman as Executive Vice President of International Marketing. Continuing the property’s recent management overhaul, RWLV said Shulman will lead its international casino...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English