The Star Entertainment Group is dealing with fresh heat after internal documents allegedly showed multiple warnings about a serious safety issue on the Brisbane casino’s Sky Deck months before a young staff member died.
The problem centred on part of the elevated outdoor area, where the placement of a handrail and gaps between glass panels reportedly made it possible for someone to climb over the protective barrier.
Managers Flagged the Risk Well Before the Tragedy
A joint investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian Financial Review found that a senior manager first raised the concern in May 2025. Additional warnings followed in July and September of the same year.
An internal risk assessment specifically looked at the possibility of deliberate falls and recommended changing the handrail design and sealing the openings in the balustrade. A separate technical review conducted in October also highlighted the barrier’s climbability as a problem that needed urgent action.
Despite these alerts, a permanent fix had still not been put in place by the time a 24-year-old employee died at the site in June 2026.
After the incident, The Star added extra security measures and installed a temporary barrier. Investigations into the death are continuing.
Growing Pressure on the Company
Star chief executive Bruce Mathieson Jr pushed back against the media coverage, describing it as selective and missing important context. He said the current leadership team is focused on strengthening safety standards, financial crime controls and responsible gambling practices across all of the group’s venues.
The case adds to broader scrutiny of casino operators and the standards expected from companies serving Australian gamblers. Readers researching the wider market can explore our guide to online casinos and compare real money casinos, including the safety and player-protection factors worth checking before choosing an operator.
The timing of the revelations could hardly be worse for The Star. The company recently posted a net loss of AU$307.3 million for the financial year ending 30 June 2026, and its Sydney casino licence remains suspended.
Regulators in both Queensland and New South Wales have reportedly asked for more information about the earlier Sky Deck warnings.
Pokie Inc will keep tracking developments around The Star’s Brisbane property and any further regulatory action that may follow.
