US hospitality giant Hard Rock International has denied rumors that it is planning to make a bid for the Australian casino giant The Star Entertainment Group. The speculations ran wild after some reports that a consortium of parties including Hard Rock’s Pacific branch had supposedly expressed interest in the embattled Australian company.

Hard Rock International to Take Legal Action Amid Acquisition Speculations

In a recent statement, Hard Rock International noted it is perplexed about these claims. The company emphasized it has not authorized any discussions or negotiations in connection with a potential acquisition of The Star, reported The Australian. 

Hard Rock International further added that it is going to take legal action to protect the reputation of its brand as no third parties have been authorized to associate Hard Rock with a potential bid for The Star. The company also highlighted that only official company communication channels should be utilized for accurate information. 

The Star Entertainment Group announced earlier that external parties have indeed expressed interest in acquiring the company. However, The Star noted that there were no substantive discussions in connection with the proposal. 

Still, The Star provided information that part of the consortium that expressed interest was a local partner affiliated with Hard Rock International.

After the initial announcement from The Star, the company shares surged but following the statement dismissing the association of Hard Rock International with any potential bid drove the share price down again.  

The Star Faces Scrutiny: Second Probe Into Casino License Suitability

The Star has been embroiled in a long-lasting investigation into violations of anti-money laundering rules and ties with Asian junket operators. The company is still under scrutiny from Australian gambling regulators.

The company is currently facing a second investigation into its suitability to hold a New South Wales casino license. This is due to governance and compliance issues, which were uncovered during the first Bell report. The initial investigation into The Star led to many implications for the gambling operator, including a record fine.

Now the company has six months to prove its suitability and prevent permanent license loss. According to plans, The Star will implement remediation measures. The Bell Two inquiry will focus on financial obligations and remediation efforts with hearings held in camera. The results will help the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) make a decision regarding the future of the embattled operator.

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The Arkansas Supreme Court has rejected a petition from Legends Resort and Casino and Cherokee Nation Businesses, seeking a rehearing in a case where the court ruled that the Arkansas Racing Commission’s award of the Pope County casino license to the consortium violated Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution. This decision leaves the Commission free to determine how to resolve the matter.

The Court Decision Marks Significant Progress

The legal battle began in November 2021 when the Arkansas Racing Commission issued the Pope County casino license to the Legends/Cherokee consortium, nullifying the license previously awarded to Gulfside Casino Partnership in 2020. Gulfside challenged this decision, leading to several years of court cases and disputes that may significantly affect the state’s gambling sector.

Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution, approved by voters in November 2018, empowered the Arkansas Racing Commission to license four full-fledged casinos. However, in a 5-2 ruling on October 26, 2023, the state’s Supreme Court affirmed a decision by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox, stating that the Arkansas Racing Commission erred in the licensing process.

The Commission had awarded the license to two entities, Legends Resort and Casino and Cherokee Nation Businesses. The court ruled that only a single entity could hold a casino license. Legends failed to meet the licensing requirements stipulated in the Arkansas Constitution due to a lack of prior casino gaming experience, disqualifying the venue from offering gambling services.

Legends Resort and Casino’s Future Remains Uncertain

The court’s decision not to grant a rehearing further complicates the situation. The next step involves the Arkansas Racing Commission meeting to receive input from the attorney general’s office and the state Department of Finance and Administration to determine the best course of action that will cause minimal disruptions.

The Pope County casino license has been a source of contention, with billions of dollars collectively wagered at the state’s casinos annually. Trent Minner, administrator of the state Department of Finance and Administration’s Regulatory Division, which includes the Racing Commission, stated that the Commission would assess the situation in upcoming meetings.

The high court’s decision effectively ended any form of litigation or questions remaining regarding the casino issue over the past five years.

Pope County Judge Ben Cross

The denial of the petition for rehearing by the Arkansas Supreme Court clears the way for the Arkansas Racing Commission to act. These ongoing legal proceedings and the involvement of different entities have underscored the challenges of implementing casino licensing in the state. The decision may prompt discussions on potential next steps and the impact on the casino licensing process in Pope County.

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Imperial Pacific International (IPI) faced another crippling blow on Monday as the US Supreme Court rejected its petition, upholding the Ninth Circuit’s previous ruling regarding the case. This decision allows the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) to proceed with the revocation hearing concerning IPI’s casino license and will likely spell the end for Imperial Palace Casino in Saipan.

The Operator Exhausted All Legal Options

The casino, operated by IPI, ceased operations in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, suffering a license suspension in April 2021 for failure to pay its license fees. IPI contested this decision, citing force majeure as the primary reason behind its casino closure. However, the Supreme Court highlighted that the force majeure event had concluded, and IPI had to pay its dues.

IPI, in response, filed civil suits against the CCC, alleging breaches in the casino license contract and an overstepping of its regulatory role in interpreting the agreement. The following legal disputes won the beleaguered operator some extra time to resolve its most pressing issues, but its efforts appear to have been in vain.

The CCC’s final compromise gave IPI until 30 December 2023 to pay back the $62 million in missed license fees or lose its license for good. That deadline passed without any attempts from the operator to pay its dues. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the CCC is now free to hold a revocation hearing, which will likely spell the end of this saga.

A License Revocation Seems Inevitable

Commission representatives expressed relief at the Supreme Court’s decision, welcoming the opportunity to determine the fate of IPI’s license. Commissioner Ramon Dela Cruz stressed that IPI had ample time and due process to address its financial obligations to the CNMI government. The upcoming revocation hearing is scheduled for 31 January 2024 and should finally put the matter to rest.

Attorney General Edward E. Manibusan hailed the recent legal breakthrough, stressing the importance of enforcing IPI’s obligations to the CNMI. Although a license revocation is a natural next step for the Commission, the Commonwealth will likely face difficulties collecting its dues, as IPI has exhausted most of its assets, even auctioning off its liquor inventory.

This victory is important for the people of the Commonwealth in enforcing IPI’s failure to meet its contractual and statutory obligations to the people of the CNMI.

Attorney General Edward E. Manibusan

Despite legal challenges and appeals, the ruling from the highest court in the country affirms the CCC’s authority to pursue the revocation of IPI’s casino license. Although the process includes an official hearing, it is little more than a formality. This case highlights the lengths to which even a smaller casino operator will go to salvage its business, even against overwhelming odds.

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Big Daddy, an offshore ship-based casino in the Indian state of Goa, recently came under fire over alleged ties with Chikoti Praveen Kumar, a gambling investor who ran illegal gambling operations in Thailand. Some had even suggested that the illegal business was an extension of Big Daddy.

However, representatives of the Goa casino have now come forward, denying its association with the investor and his illicit activity. As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, the spokespeople blasted the claims, saying that there isn’t any truth to them.

We would like to clarify that Mr Chikoti Praveen Kumar is not associated with Big Daddy Casino in any capacity.

Big Daddy Casino spokesperson

The Big Daddy Casino representatives explained that their property is always striving to maintain a good reputation and is doing its best to keep its operations as transparent as possible. The property is committed to doing ethical business, the spokespeople insisted, saying that this automatically means that the claims of ties with Kumar are untruthful.

Representatives from the offshore casino noted that the property is not associated with Chikoti Praveen Kumar in terms of investment, ownership, management or in any other business-related aspect.

Kumar Was Arrested During a Police Raid in Thailand

For reference, Kumar was recently arrested in Thailand after hosting an illegal gambling event in a local hotel. Earlier this month, Phuket authorities raided the Asia Pattaya Hotel, busting Kumar’s operations. The police operation came amid discussions about the legalization of casino resorts, making it imperative to crush illegal gambling.

Kumar and his associates had shipped makeshift gambling equipment and dealers from India to Thailand. The equipment was supposed to be used for an unlicensed event, authorities believe. As a result of the operation Kumar and 82 more people were arrested. The police seized cash, playing cards, multiple computers, a CCTV camera and other incriminating evidence.

At the time, certain media outlets thought that the operations could have had ties to Big Daddy Casino – a notion that the casino has now refuted.

Big Daddy Casino is situated on a large ship that had its maiden voyage in 2019. The property is 72 meters long and 24 meters wide and, over its three decks, encompasses over 50,000 square feet of gaming space. The property is equipped with 100 gaming tables spread across the decks, providing players with a constant source of entertainment.

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