A$260M VIP Bath: Star Entertainment Gets the Bill for Dirty Money.

When VIP customers bring millions, questions about where the money came from can apparently become inconvenient. Australia's regulator has now delivered a A$260 million reminder. On October 28, 2026, the Federal Court ordered The Star Entertainment Group to pay the penalty for serious anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing breaches.

VIPs Nobody Wanted to Question.

According to AUSTRAC, more than 1,200 high-risk customers were able to gamble through channels with elevated money-laundering risks. The operator failed to apply adequate source-of-funds checks, customer monitoring and controls around junket activity. The court also identified suspicious incidents involving private gaming rooms.

Billions on the Table.

Revenue from junkets exceeded A$1.4 billion. Revenue from high-risk customers between November 2016 and November 2022 was approximately A$1.33 billion by Star's own calculation. These are not proven amounts of money laundering. They demonstrate the scale of business exposed to compliance failures.

The Regulator Wanted A$400M.

AUSTRAC sought a penalty of roughly A$400 million. Star argued that a fine above A$100 million could threaten liquidation. The court imposed A$260 million, taking account of the serious breaches, Star's finances, previous penalties and remediation. Payments will be made in four instalments over 19 months. On October 29, Star said it accepted the decision.

BETDILLA EDITORIAL TAKE.

A VIP player might bring millions to the casino. But fail to check where those millions came from and that relationship could eventually deliver a A$260 million bill. Profit, private rooms and fancy cocktails do not buy immunity from compliance.