Review of Adelaide casino pushed into the new year
The state government has given former Supreme Court Judge Brian Martin an extension on his review of whether SkyCity Adelaide is suitable to hold the state’s only casino licence.
Announced on Monday afternoon, the Acting South Australian Liquor and Gambling Commissioner for Consumer and Business Services agreed to an extension of time for the completion of Brian Martin KC’s independent review into Adelaide’s casino.
Martin is now expected to complete his report by the end of May 2024, from the previous deadline of 31 December 2024.
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The review was placed on hold in February 2023 while AUSTRAC action against the casino’s parent company SkyCity Entertainment Group was ongoing. At the time, Martin said he could not determine questions of SkyCity’s suitability “reliabily” until the Federal Court proceedings were resolved.
In June 2024, the court found SkyCity Adelaide’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing programs failed to meet the legislation’s requirements and ordered the company pay a $67 million penalty, which was proposed to the court after an agreement with the federal financial crime regulator.
In an update to shareholders on Monday, SkyCity said “as previously flagged to the market… it is possible that Mr Martin’s findings may be unfavourable”.
“However, prior to any final report being provided by Mr Martin, it is not possible to determine the outcome of the independent review and what regulatory action, if any, might be applied to SkyCity Adelaide and SkyCity.”
