Facing regulatory action in the Down Under, Star Entertainment has confirmed that another high-ranking executive in the face of chairman David Foster has stepped down after less than a year on the job.

Another One Bids Adieu to Star Entertainment in Time of Need

He adds to the droves of executives who have exited Star Entertainment amid intensifying scrutiny from the country’s gambling regulator, with chief finance officer Christina Katsibouba and chief executive officer Robbie Cooke both turning their resignations in March.

Foster, though, is not immediately exiting the company and will continue to carry out his duties in a temporary capacity. He wants to make the transition towards a new chief executive officer smoother, as Star Entertainment is still on the lookout for its own top person.

However, Foster will only help with the executive responsibilities he took on when he became a chair, and he will be replaced in the chair position by Anne Ward, an independent non-executive director, whose appointment into the new position comes with immediate effect.

Star Entertainment has come under heavy fire from regulators and has been found unfit to hold a license in Sydney in October 2022, as the regulator found the company to have not met all necessary prerequisites to continue operating the property. A second inquiry is now underway, with the heat on Star Entertainment unlikely to let up any time soon.

Star has been waddling through more problems still, especially in light of new previously unseen text messages that showed insiders at the company pushing for the removal of Star Sydney’s special manager, Nicholas Weeks, and the NSW regulator.

The Clouds Gather for Star Entertainment and Executives

That was the event which prompted Cooke’s decision to step down in a formal acceptance of mea culpa. Cooke though has already said that the rapport that Star and the regulator had was a fraught one, and it often felt like a “one-way street.”

“But it was a difficult position for the company because we were taking a contrary position to the manager and some of his views of the company,” Cooke said. The former executive further noted that the messages had come out of context, and they only represented a single exchange between Star insiders, and not the company’s official position. Yet doubt has settled on the regulator’s mind.

The ongoing saga with the second trial is adding insult to injury, and the exodus of C-level executives is undermining the company’s ability to save face at a particularly challenging period of its operations.

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The Board of Directors of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) issued a statement to notify the general public that Carl Brincat, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will not be looking for a continuation of his existing contract, which will become invalid on January 25 next year.

Appreciation

The Board has expressed its gratitude to Dr Brincat, particularly for his outstanding leadership skills throughout his time as CEO. In this regard, Dr Ryan C. Pace, the chairman, said according to the official press release: “Carl has made extensive contributions to the Malta Gaming Authority and to the gaming industry in Malta and we are confident in, and very thankful for, the strong foundation he leaves behind as we continue to pursue the MGA’s strategic goals.” Additionally, Dr. Brincat said: “Leaving the MGA is a very hard decision to make. The past 9 years have been a rollercoaster of experiences which contributed to the person I am today, and it has been a privilege to lead the Authority for the past 3 years. Looking back, I am proud of the work that we have done together, and of the highly motivated team that surrounds me at the Authority. I look forward to continuing to deliver our commitments over my final few months, and have no doubt that my successor will find that the fantastic team at the MGA can help him or her continue to drive improvement further. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the Authority.”

In terms of the individual who will succeed to the role of CEO and the responsibilities that come with it, the Board has a senior leadership succession plan planned specifically for this. On that note, it will officially send out a public call for applications for the aforementioned job. In addition, this entire planned process is intended to make sure an easy transition from Dr Brincat to the next CEO. However, the selected successor is expected to spend few weeks following Dr Brincat before officially starting his role on January, 26 next year.

Moreover, MGA stays devoted to reinforcing this essential sector in Malta and opening up the latest opportunities for excellence and innovation.

Sigma Europe’s Malta Week

From November 13 to November 17, Sigma Europe’s Malta Week 2023 festival will officially begin. During this festival, various global leaders will gather together for conference, convergence of expo and good old-fashioned networking. Additionally, the said festival will take place in the Mediterranean Maritime Hub (MMH), a bigger, more active location that is known for its industrial, raw and unconventional space compared to other venues.

Source: “Carl Brincat to hand over the reigns at the MGA”, Sigma World News, October 27, 2023

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Massachusetts’ Gaming Commission (MGC) will say goodbye to executive director Karen Wells on July 14, the last day when the lead will carry the official title. Wells has announced she would be stepping down from the position at the end of a long and eventful decade spent at the wheel. 

A Friendly Closure 

The departure was most likely an amicable one, as expressed by the gushing praises that both Wells and the commission’s chair, Cathy Judd-Stein, offered to one another, as marked in the agency’s official statement regarding the news.

Wells, who received the unanimous vote to become the new executive director from MGC’s five commissioners on September 10, 2020, was described as “the model of a leader” by Judd-Stein. 

The chair, who spoke on behalf of fellow commissioners, also thanked Karen “for her contributions to the MGC over her ten years of service and for the leadership she has provided as executive director.” The regulator’s effectiveness, added Judd-Stein, was “a direct reflection of Karen’s efforts and her ability to build, motivate and direct the MGC team.” 

While getting ready to announce the process that would help them choose their new executive director at the end of a series of upcoming public meetings, the agency used the voice of its chair to praise Wells’ “strategic abilities and steady presence.” 

These, according to Judd-Stein, allowed the commission to build a sports betting industry fully committed to protecting consumers. At the start of June, the MGC assessed if the marketing tactics and language used by a Barstool promotion violated the state’s current regulations. 

Wells, “Forever Thankful for the Support”

During the same public statement, Wells took the opportunity to speak about the last ten years she “had the privilege of working” for the MGC, initially as director of the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau, which is the agency’s largest department, and as executive director over the last three years. 

Describing the agency’s current core responsibilities as “operating smoothly,” Wells expressed confidence in the agency’s ability to continue its excellent work. She also said she will be “forever thankful for the support” received from commissioners, colleagues, and licensees. 

At the start of the year, prior to the launch of the market, the MGC voted in favor of including extra additions to the sports betting catalog of events that consumers would be allowed to wager on. 

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