A special manager, Nicholas Weekes, would also be placed over the top of the casino to ensure its operations get back to acceptable standards. Weeks is also the special manager in NSW and he will be assisted in Queensland by Terry Hamilton.

A 90 day suspension of its licence was also imposed but deferred for 12 months.

Star’s Queen’s Wharf project remains under threat if it is unable to prove it has improved its anti-money laundering practices. Hanging over the company is the possibility of the 90-day suspension of its licence being triggered or special conditions being placed on Queens Wharf licence.

“Whether or not Star can get back to suitability is up to them,” Fentiman said.

She said the licence holder for Queen’s Wharf, Destination Brisbane of which Star is a shareholder, has not been included because it was not operational, but if the company proves unable to get back to suitability conditions would be placed on its licence.

Also, Fentiman indicated that taking the licence away from Star would have a major impact on the thousands of workers on its payroll.

Fentiman said the reason the Queensland regulator was previously unable to act against the company despite the damning revelations from the Gotterson inquiry was because Star lied to the regulator.

“This is a significant pecuniary penalty which sends a very strong message they have to get this right and get it back to suitability,” Fentiman said.

“We are sending a very clear message that unlawful and criminal behaviour will not be tolerated in Queensland casinos.

“Star has 12 months to get their house in order if they do not want to see a suspension of their licence.

“These disciplinary actions are designed to strike a balance ensuring that thousands of Queenslanders remain employed but also sending that strong message that what happened here in Star’s casinos is completely unacceptable.

“That 90 day suspension is hanging over their heads so that they get the remediation right.”

The Gotterson inquiry and the Bell inquiry in NSW found Star had attempted to sidestep anti-money laundering laws and that it allowed people banned from its Sydney casino to play uninterrupted in Queensland.

It allowed gamblers from China to bill withdrawals from their China Union Pay credit card as hotel expenses when they were really used for gambling which was a breach of China’s laws.

Star also lied to its banks about the nature of the withdrawals.

“Queensland casinos must operate with integrity – and it is clear that there have been major failings by the Star group and its entities,” Fentiman said.

“Like many Queenslanders, I was appalled at the extent of the actions of The Star in welcoming excluded persons to their casinos and the exorbitant incentives on offer for questionable gamblers.”

“Should The Star make satisfactory progress towards rectifying these issues, the special manager and I may determine to postpone or rescind the suspension of licences.”

The LNP’s Tim Nicholls said the deliberately narrow terms of reference of the Gotterson inquiry meant links between the union movement, Star and the Palaszczuk Government were not investigated.

These links included free dinners for elected officials, a union about-face and ties to Labor lobbyists.

“Star must now demonstrate it is suitable to hold a licence in Queensland and the Palaszczuk Government must prove it has a genuine focus on regulating Queensland’s casinos because to date it has failed to do so,” Nicholls said.

The penalty and fines adds to the $100 million fine in NSW. Star is also facing major fines through a court action taken against it by Austrac.