Apologies for such a long wait for this update (8 weeks) and for the length of this update. 

As previously mentioned

22/11/2023 - I was given opportunity to meet with The Star Executives, including Group Chief Controls Officer & Group Chief Risk Officer

20/12/2023 - I was then given opportunity to have another meeting with other Senior Management including The Star Entertainment Group (TSEG) - General Manager, Financial Crime 

As you can tell by the job descriptions this is squarely directed at the anti-money laundering and financial crime reasons which is disgraceful and defamatory.

TSEG have expanded their AML team from 26 to 121 full time employees; 
TSEG have more than quadrupled their safer gambling team with 83 full time employees, up from 18 - according to TSEG AGM - November 2023

Both meetings went well (I thought at the time anyway, we were very respectful of each others views), I raised concerns and requested that WOLs be reviewed with a proper investigation to afford players opportunity to explain any misunderstanding and answer any concerns The Star has with poker players. I was given the assurance that they would go back to their respective teams and discuss options on how we could move forward so that players would have an opportunity to participate in WPT Prime in April 2024. The Star agreed at the very least they needed to communicate better so we could understand what is expected of players in terms of financial supporting evidence so we can assist each other, to keep regulators happy. This still hasn't been done either.

I sent a very polite follow up email on four occasions [GM Financial Crime] every Monday from 15th Jan, 22nd Jan, 29th Jan & 6th Feb and essentially nothing back of substance.

A copy of possibly my final email (not so polite) below advising players have no other choice to seek a resolution through Civil and Administrative Tribunals.  I have had enough of the lack of interest shown by The Star, they don't understand or care about poker in the senior ranks and are showing total arrogance and treating players I care about, and friends of many of the poker community like criminals without any evidence or investigation, and they clearly have never heard of the Australian Poker Hall of Fame, Hendonmob or Global Poker Index and I'm tired of trying to explain it to them. 

The Star has made false or misleading representations and is guilty of unconscionable conduct.

Dear [GM Financial Crime]

(I would also appreciate if @EA can please pass this onto the Executives, and both Chairman and CEO)

I must assume that since there has not been a further response to my enquiries, that there is a complete lack of interest by the Star to afford players the opportunity to a fair investigation, or even provide them with reasons for their Withdrawal of Licence (WOL). 

In this case, all players have no other option but to resolve this through Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) and NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) as a priority.

Legal advice has suggested that going through QCAT and NCAT will force The Star to give players the reason for issuing WOL, and without providing a reason The Star cannot succeed.

One high profile Australian poker player has already commenced action in NCAT with the hearing to happen this month, others will now be following the same process, and I will be supporting them.

I overwhelmingly want The Star to be successful as an Australian company considering all of the employees and tourism potential it has. Even though I’m not a shareholder, I believe I am a stakeholder in the Australian casino and gaming industry as someone that enjoys gambling, entertainment and I love the game of poker. I was once hoping that a simple misunderstanding could be resolved directly and relatively quickly with The Star in good faith when I first started making polite enquiries for my good friend Najeem Ajez back in April 2023. I believe I have been patient enough, and even made time to meet with Executives, yourself, and other senior management and believe I showed a lot of respect to all of you in very important roles. All of time was for no result, no one at The Star will even attempt to resolve this issue and that is a mistake.

The Star Entertainment Group’s 2023 AGM shows both Chairman David Foster and CEO Robbie Cooke spoke about four new values, two of them were ‘Leading with Integrity’ and ‘Take Good Care’, yet there is no integrity or taking good care in banning respectful people with exemplary reputations without a proper investigation, which would clearly identify a major mistake had been made. It seems that it doesn’t matter who is in charge, or what they say, The Star keeps making mistakes. 

It’s a shame that I have wasted so much time trying to resolve this with The Star without any success, but I intend to make my time worthwhile by following through with the next steps.

Unlike The Star, poker operators outside the casinos and poker players in Australia love the game, that’s why we play, we care about a game that gives opportunities to thousands of people regardless of gender, age, background, financial status or physicality. I just play poker socially as a hobby, as well as voluntarily promoting the game as a positive activity in Australia to whomever and whenever I get the chance. It is clear The Star does not see poker as a game of skill at all, they certainly don’t believe despite all of the data that players can use poker as a source of income and only want to add poker to their bottom line, not just for poker commission but attracting patrons into their lucrative gambling properties. The actions of banning players including three in the Australian Hall of Fame proves The Star doesn’t really care about or respect the game, the poker community, or the players much at all.  

Poker players have also been majorly impacted in many parts of Australia, not just in casinos due to new regulation around Responsible Gaming and Anti-Money Laundering. We can say with certainty this was caused by The Star (along with Crown) by people that poker players have never even met, yet it’s the poker community that is being punished for those mistakes.  This is obviously unfair, but one thing I’ve learnt over the last six months or so, is that there is no point complaining to The Star any more, it is a waste of time, it seems nobody there can get to the bottom of a simple player WOL, let alone understanding the game of poker and it’s community.

I have no certainty where the next steps with QCAT and NCAT will lead, or what other steps will take place, but I will continue to fight for some good friends of mine.

Kind Regards,
Craig Abernethy

Founder, Australian Poker Schedule
w australianpokerschedule.com.au

Next steps may also include using media (Poker, Mainstream, Social Media and YouTube) to give this appalling decision by Star to ban some of our most respected poker players.