Highlights
- NSW treasurer, Matt Kean, hinted toward potential rises in casino tax rates.
- Following the news, shares of The Star plunged over 11% on the ASX.
- The Star has one operational casino in NSW, alongside two new ones to open on 1 July 2023.
Today morning (19 December), Australian gambling company The Star Entertainment Group Limited (ASX:SGR) informed the market about potential increases in casino taxes in the New South Wales region. The Star has one of its casinos (The Star, Sydney) operating in New South Wales (NSW).
The company said in an ASX statement that Matt Kean MP, the New South Wales treasurer, had made references to possible rises in the state's casino tax rates. The announcement refers to proposed gaming tax increases for the two casinos in New South Wales, which are expected to open on 1 July 2023 and raise an additional AU$364 million over the following three years.
Meanwhile, shares of The Star were spotted reacting negatively to the news, down 11.627% on the ASX. One share of The Star was valued at AU$2.280 as of 1:58 PM AEDT, 19 December 2022.
What did The Star say on casino tax changes?
As stated in the ASX filing, the group is trying to engage with the New South Wales government about the sustainability of these anticipated casino tax increases along with their impact on the company’s business. While continuing on a path of remediation to return to acceptability and regain the trust of its community, the company is actively taking steps to shift toward cashless gaming and carded play in order to create a safer gambling environment.
Commenting on poker machine taxes, Mr Kean said that “It’s important that casinos pay their fair share of tax. These reformed tax rates will replace the existing regime under which casinos pay less tax on poker machines than hotels and clubs.”
Additionally, other information about the projected revisions, such as how the taxes will be collected or administered, has yet to be made public. The NSW Government also hasn’t consulted with The Star about this issue.
The ASX report mentioned that upon the adoption of these proposed reforms; possible effects would depend on their specifics and how they will affect the current agreements that govern The Star's activities in Sydney.
Robbie Cook, managing director and CEO of The Star, also shared his thoughts on casino tax changes:
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Data Source: Company announcement dated 19 December 2022