SGR ASX: Billionaire Bruce Mathieson backs Ballys bid for Star with $50m sweetener

Xingchun Wang has spent more than $38 million buying shares in Star, which last week warned it was running out of money and could be weeks away from collapse if it did not secure additional financing. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Now the chances of losing it all have been turned back onto one of Australia’s biggest casino operators. “Traditionally, probity checks have taken many months for new operators in casinos across the different state jurisdictions,” Mr Jones said. Swinburne University law and corporate governance specialist Helen Bird told ABC’s News Channel it seemed “more than likely” the company would tip into voluntary administration.
The second inquiry, dubbed Bell 2 when launched in February, was published on Friday and “validated the concerns that prompted the second inquiry” according to the NICC. The body said it is considering next steps for the future of the suspended Crown Casino compliance operator. The financial crime watchdog says the court should disregard casino operator’s threat that it would collapse under the weight of a $400 million fine. The price of Bitcoin plummeted on Friday after the US government signalled it would not acquire additional cryptocurrencies for its strategic reserve beyond its current holdings. Overall, spending on both debit and personal credit cards rose by $207 million in the month and $3.1 billion compared to the same time one year ago. Canstar analysis of RBA figures shows credit card debt attracting interest charges has risen every January since 2015. The price of Bitcoin plummeted on Friday after US President Donald Trump’s administration signalled it would not acquire additional cryptocurrencies for its strategic reserve beyond its current holdings.
The fact that it hasn’t suggests the board and its advisers are engaged in the same hunting expedition as everyone else – attempting to dig out details on this new mysterious investor who is now Star’s second-largest shareholder. In an update posted to the ASX on Monday night, Star has confirmed it has agreed to a $300 million rescue package with American online casino Australia top-rated providers and gaming group, Bally’s. Star — which owns casinos in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney and employs more than 9,000 people — has warned for months it could fall into administration if a financier was not found.
He’s also spent the past few months talking up a government strategic reserve that would hold bitcoin, ethereum as well as some other coins. “Market pricing now matches our forecast of two more rate cuts, taking the cash rate down to around 3.6 per cent by year-end,” Mr Robertson said in an economic note released on Friday. And it knocks about investor confidence, which could see a more rocky sharemarket and RocketPlay Microgaming games a hit to your super savings. Costco Wholesale would consider making changes to its international supply chain if tariffs from US President Donald Trump lead to big price hikes, chief executive Ron Vachris said on a conference call. The Reserve Bank’s credit card statistics showed credit card debt accruing interest rose by $172 million (up 1 per cent) in January. National credit card debt hit $18 billion in January 2025 — the highest level of debt accruing interest since August 2021. We will keep an eye out for any reports and report them for you over the coming weeks and months.
Star chief executive Steve McCann has unsuccessfully tried to coax lenders, state governments and investors into giving the embattled casino operator the time and cash needed to work through its challenges. Embattled true fortune casino no deposit bonus operator Star Entertainment has warned that it faces “material uncertainty” over its ability to stay afloat unless it finds a solution to its worsening financial woes, sparking a further drop in the company’s share price. Shares in The Star Entertainment Group Limited (“Star”) tanked last week after their first day back on the ASX in almost a month. This ended a prolonged trading halt further aggravated by a slap-on-the-wrist ASX suspension for failure to provide timely financial accounts.
Sign Up for Take StockInvestment news, stock ideas, and more, straight to your inbox. The Star is continuing to engage with the Joint Venture Partners and will provide an update if there are any material developments regarding the parties’ respective interests in DBC and DGCC. However, craps online Star and its JV partners were “unable to reach agreement on a number of outstanding commercial issues” relating to the deal. Revenues are down, with Star Entertainment reporting an unaudited $270 million in revenue for 4Q FY25, down 31% on 4Q FY24. “[It’s] loaded with $650 million of its own debt, is still less than 50 per cent operational and requires hundreds of millions of dollars in additional capital expenditure to complete,” Mr Mayne noted.
The Australian Financial Review does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy and/or completeness of such data or information. The gaming giant had called off negotiations on an earlier proposal after failing to agree on key details of a plan to sell its Brisbane project. Shares close read poker hands in tournament on fifth straight month of gains; Qantas at record high on Jetstar; Ramsay’s weak Aussie earnings; IDP Education soars nearly 30 per cent on outlook; Wesfarmers dividend splurge.
Peter Gartlan, co-CEO of Financial Counselling Australia, added that everyone needs access to telecommunications services and said consumers aren’t getting adequate protection. “We continue to hear from callers to our frontlines of egregious examples of telco mis-selling and harm due to poor sales practices and credit assessment requirements,” she said. Overall goods spending fell 0.6 per cent in January, after rising for three months in a row. The government will not acquire additional assets for the stockpile beyond those obtained through forfeiture proceedings. “Any global forecasts need to consider upside and downside scenarios, including the indirect impact of trade tensions on our largest trade partner China. The total value of credit card transactions rose by $21 million in January compared to the previous month.