The Star reviews its approach to VIP customers

Star Entertainment Chairman Soo Kim said he was horrified and surprised by how the company treated its VIP players. Speaking at the shareholders' meeting, Kim said VIP customers were mistreated and that this was the company's biggest problem. In his view, the issue lies in the way the rules were applied.

Kim stressed that the great majority of customers had no bad intent. He told the board that many customers were not allowed to play due to enhanced duty of care, and that these players were then found to be playing at rival casinos. Kim argued that a rival subject to the same regulatory framework being able to host these customers shows that responsibility cannot be placed on regulation alone.

Meanwhile, the company reported EBITDA of 12 million dollars in the first quarter. Revenue at The Star Sydney and The Star Gold Coast rose compared with the previous quarter. Kim said the company is now building up cash, with its cash balance reaching about 200 million dollars.