Stellar Entertainment Corporation is facing a collective legal action brought by investors, claiming that the company made misleading or deceptive statements regarding its adherence to regulatory standards.
The legal action was initiated in the highest court of Victoria, Australia, and encompasses investors who acquired shares between March 29, 2016, and March 16, 2022.
The extensive 108-page legal document asserts that Stellar Entertainment Corporation consistently portrayed itself as a morally sound and responsible gambling operator, adhering to its legal and regulatory commitments.
However, Slater and Gordon cite media reports that surfaced in October 2021, alleging that Stellar Entertainment Corporation had cultivated high-stakes gamblers with ties to criminal activity or foreign entities, and had failed to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing legislation.
Following the dissemination of these reports, Stellar Entertainment Corporation’s share price experienced a sharp decline of over 25%, resulting in a loss of A$1 billion (GBP 574.1 million/EUR 677.6 million/USD 752.7 million) in market value.
These accusations prompted the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority of New South Wales to initiate an investigation in September 2021 to ascertain whether Stellar Entertainment Corporation remained eligible to hold a casino license.
In the first month of the year, the probe broadened its scope to evaluate other organizations within the conglomerate.
This week, Matt Bekier, the long-standing chief executive and managing director of Star Entertainment Group, stepped down due to concerns related to the Star Sydney assessment. Public hearings into the activities of Star Entertainment Group are ongoing, and so far, the hearings have uncovered a series of accusations, including that Star Entertainment Group permitted junket operator Suncity to operate its own chip exchange at Star Sydney Casino, where Suncity exchanged chips for cash, despite this being against the New South Wales Casino Control Act. The case also alleges that Star Entertainment Group’s statements regarding the development of policies to mitigate the risks of money laundering, corruption, bribery, insider trading, and restricted use of gambling products were misleading or deceptive. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that any conduct by directors or employees of Star Entertainment Group that is inconsistent with the company’s values – which are intended to help maintain its reputation and protect the wider community from harm – will not be tolerated. Slater and Gordon Lawyers cited the Bergin Inquiry into rival Crown Resorts, which commenced in 2019 and last year determined that Crown Resorts was not suitable to operate a casino at Barangaroo in Sydney because evidence revealed that its facilities and accounts were used for money laundering. Bekier publicly declared in 2019 that despite Star Entertainment Group operating in the same market, it conducted thorough due diligence on its business partners.
In those days, Bekier declared: “I am certain that our operations are conducted ethically and within the bounds of the law…[and] I am confident that all our actions are not only legal, but are being carried out in a manner that should reassure both ourselves and our stakeholders that we are acting responsibly.”
Zoko, the lead lawyer representing the Slater and Gordon class action, stated that their examination into whether investors had a case against Star Entertainment commenced last October, and their analysis to date indicates that investors have a strong foundation for a legal claim.
“For the past six years, Star Entertainment has presented itself as a model casino operator, diligently fulfilling its responsibilities, not only adhering to the letter of the law, but also to its spirit,” Zoko remarked.
“Star Entertainment asserts that it places a high value on adherence to regulations and conducts its business in an ethical, honest, and upright manner. Our investigation to date, and the extraordinary evidence revealed in the Bell Inquiry thus far, suggests otherwise.”
He stated: “When investors acquire shares in a publicly listed company, they have the right to assume that all material information pertinent to the company’s financial standing has been disclosed to the market.”
“Our stance is that Star Entertainment failed to do so, and consequently, investors are entitled to compensation for their financial losses.”
The primary plaintiff, David Lynch, conveyed his dissatisfaction with the substantial decline in his investment value. He voiced worries that Star Entertainment may have misled investors, suggesting a higher degree of adherence to regulatory requirements than was actually the case.
“As an investor, I anticipate that listed, authorized operators will function within the legal framework and have suitable protections in place to guarantee compliance. I am taken aback by the apparent breaches unveiled by Star Entertainment at the public hearing,” Lynch stated.
In reaction to the legal action, Star Entertainment acknowledged its receipt and declared its intent to contest the claims.
