Gaming

A former senior media advisor for the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission has sued the watchdog, alleging she was fired after complaining about bullying behaviour by a senior employee. 

Gaming giant Aristocrat is suing its head of design for alleged intellectual property infringement and has secured orders restraining him from using or disclosing any of thousands of company files he is accused of copying.

Aristocrat Leisure and its mobile gaming units Big Fish Games and Product Madness have been hit with a consumer class action, after a US class action alleging Big Fish apps constituted illegal gambling settled for US$155 million.

The Star is challenging a finding from the commissioner of taxation that the casino giant owes $5.3 million on payments made to junket operators, arguing the payments were not 'payments for operating or promoting a junket'. 

Crown Resorts is seeking $10 million in security for costs from the law firm running a shareholder class action accusing it of lax anti-money laundering compliance, arguing the sum is justified in light of the firm’s potential recovery under a tiered group costs order.

Star Entertainment has made admissions in AUSTRAC's action alleging non-compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws, but there are still substantial issues in dispute, a court has heard.

Global cryptocurrency and gambling website Stake.com is fighting to strike out claims in a lawsuit by Sydney-based online investment platform Stake over a planned Australian launch.

The winning, 14 per cent contingency fee proposal by Slater & Gordon in a fight to run a class action against Star Entertainment was not driven by a desire to prevail in the contest and buy market share but was the product of a "reasoned decision" that took into account the law firm's practice as a whole, a judge has found.

Star Entertainment coughed up $595 million in regulatory and legal costs in the 2023 financial year, as it faces ongoing disputes with ASIC and AUSTRAC and an $80 million class action.

SkyCity may be the first company to test the strength of AUSTRAC's claims in court, according to a judge who recently said in a separate case that the regulator's habit of agreeing to penalties could give rise to a "moral hazard".