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    Yesterday

    Gillon McLachlan has been appointed boss of Tabcorp.

    Market finds solace in McLachlan’s experience growing AFL bets

    But others, like David Pocock, are increasingly unhappy about the “nexus” between the powerhouse football code and major wagering companies like Tabcorp.

    • Zoe Samios

    This Month

    Gill McLachlan ran the AFL until last year. He was appointed Tabcorp’s chief executive on Monday.

    Former AFL boss Gillon McLachlan takes on ‘legacy brand’ Tabcorp

    He arrives at the company in the midst of a painful transformation and after the departure of Adam Rytenskild, who was being investigated for offensive language.

    • Updated
    • Zoe Samios
    Former AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan will step into a big new role.

    Gillon McLachlan’s new Tabcorp job is a risky bet for both sides

    The former AFL boss steps into a business that feels like it’s in a perpetual turnaround. He could end up looking like a hero, but the odds are not on his side.

    • James Thomson
    Former AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan is working as a senior advisor for Blackstone.

    Private equity giant Blackstone enlists former AFL boss Gill McLachlan

    The businessman stepped down as chief executive of the AFL at the end of last year. He’s been linked to a range of roles across sport and wagering.

    • Zoe Samios
    PwC manager Jim Christodouleas.

    PwC banking expert questions truth of October 7 Hamas massacre

    Melbourne-based Jim Christodouleas cast doubt on reports of sexual violence at the Supernova music festival, prompting anger in the Jewish community.

    • Aaron Patrick
    Advertisement
    Aristocrat chief executive Trevor Croker is thinking about doing something unlike the poker machines group: sell an asset.

    Why pokies giant Aristocrat is doing a U-turn on computer games

    Aristocrat Leisure went big into developing non-gambling computer games less than a decade ago. Now it is considering an exit, in full.

    • Anthony Macdonald
    Laurence Escalante is the founder of Virtual Gaming Worlds.

    Laurence Escalante’s Virtual Gaming Worlds delivers monster dividend

    The record payout for shareholders comes despite increasing legal scrutiny of the company’s business and its popular Chumba Casino and Luckyland Slots.

    • Primrose Riordan
    SkyCity’s Adelaide casino has been refurbished, but the company will pay a $67 million fine to settle claims it allowed billions of dollars of dirty money to be washed through its operations.

    SkyCity suspends dividends, cuts guidance as troubles mount

    The operator of casinos in Adelaide and Auckland warned of delays in major projects and a “challenging economic environment”, sending shares tumbling.

    • Zoe Samios
    Lottery Corporation could give customers the chance to win more after a better-than-expected second half.

    Bigger, more frequent Powerball jackpots on the way: Citi

    The investment bank’s analysts have told clients that The Lottery Corporation is cashed up and will defend its most popular game by offering more prize money.

    • Zoe Samios
    Former Virgin Australia boss John Borghetti and current Crown Sydneyt chairman has now been appointed chairman of Crown Resorts.

    Ex-Virgin boss John Borghetti appointed Crown Resorts chairman

    Bill McBeath, a veteran US casino executive who ran The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, will step aside but remain on the Blackstone-owned gaming group’s board.

    • Updated
    • Zoe Samios
    Mounties makes the biggest profit from poker machines in NSW.

    Sydney’s Mounties club under AUSTRAC scrutiny for pokies profits

    The club, in the city’s south-west, is one of the biggest in terms of gaming machines profit. It is unclear if other NSW clubs are under similar scrutiny from the financial crimes watchdog.

    • Zoe Samios
    The dining room at Parlar in Sydney’s Potts Point.

    At Star, only the executives got a Christmas party

    At an end-of-year dinner with chief executive Robbie Cooke, the casino group’s top managers learnt they were in a war with their regulator.

    • Aaron Patrick
    Patrick Farrugia.

    Gold Coast prequel to Star’s Hard Rock overture

    A storm erupted last month about Hard Rock’s ties to a deal for casino operator Star. This was not the first time such perplexity had emerged, it can be revealed.

    • Liam Walsh and Zoe Samios

    May

    Stake.com founders Bijan Tehrani and Edward Craven.

    Stake.com billionaires buy more of local bookie Pointsbet

    Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani first bought shares in December through their fast-growing company EasyGo Gaming.

    • Zoe Samios
    Robbie Cooke at his home in Brisbane this week.

    At Star, one man held all the cards

    Chief executive Robbie Cooke was determined to lead every important project at the troubled casino group, former executives say.

    • Aaron Patrick
    Advertisement
    The Pit Stop Sports Bar & BBQ Grill on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon.

    The biggest threat to Australia’s lotteries? This Oregon sports bar

    In an understated barbecue joint on the outskirts of Portland, lotto sales are booming – thanks to a secretive Northern Territory-registered wagering group.

    • Zoe Samios
    The consortium claimed Hard Rock International was fully aware of its proposal.

    Star Entertainment suitor claims it kept Hard Rock in the loop

    Two firms – HDI-BB and Hotel Development International – confirmed on Monday that they approached Star in March with a turnaround strategy.

    • Zoe Samios and Liam Walsh
    Zach Galifianakis’ character Alan also had a wild experience starting at Hard Rock.

    The Star suitor and the fight over home in exclusive suburb

    There hasn’t been confusion like this around casinos since “The Hangover”.

    • Liam Walsh
    Star Entertainment is not fit to hold its Sydney licence even under supervision, according to an inquiry.

    Star may never be suitable to hold Sydney casino licence, inquiry told

    In his closing remarks, assisting counsel Caspar Conde rejected a number of assertions made by Star about its suitability.

    • Zoe Samios
    Hard Rock operates dozens of venues around the world.

    Brisbane developer emerges at centre of Star’s Hard Rock mystery

    The Florida-based entertainment giant said it had not authorised its name for use, despite Star telling investors it had received a proposal.

    • Updated
    • Zoe Samios, Anthony Macdonald and Liam Walsh