Australia
The Star appoints first female GM of Surveillance Queensland
The Star Entertainment Group has appointed Zhan Spalding to its senior leadership team, taking up the newly created role of General Manager Surveillance Queensland and further supporting a commitment to gender equality targets.
With more than 30 years’ experience leading surveillance and security operations for both national and international gaming venues, Ms Spalding will take on the dual role overseeing The Star’s two Queensland properties.
Ms Spalding will be a key part of the transition from the Treasury Brisbane surveillance team to a new model in preparation for operations commencing at the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct with a planned staged opening in the second half of 2023.
She will also commence immediate oversight of the existing surveillance operating model at The Star Gold Coast, as its $2 billion masterplan expansion continues.
Chief Operating Officer of The Star Gold Coast Jess Mellor said, “We are thrilled to have been successful in attracting Zhan to this new and critical role for the business.”
“She has extensive expertise in surveillance technology implementation, multi-site management, restructuring and streamlining processes, which we will be relying on as we further cement our position as the Gold Coast’s premium tourism and entertainment destination.
“Her appointment underpins The Star’s growth and investment in Queensland as well as bolstering our female leadership ranks,” Jess Mellor said.
“The Star has a target of 45% female and 45% male representation in leadership roles while the remaining 10% recognises the need to create space for non-binary gender identities.”
Zhan Spalding, who began her gaming career in Prague and has worked globally including in Morocco, Argentina, Venezuela, Romania, England and New Zealand before moving to Australia said the promotion of gender equality was an attractor to the role.
“Throughout my career there have been many times I was the only woman in a surveillance or security international network events team, so I am passionate about encouraging other women to pursue a career in this industry,” Ms Spalding said.
“I also want to shine a spotlight on the breadth of the role, which is complex and challenging requiring knowledge of technology, compliance, policy, procedure, data analytics, crisis management and more,” she said.
“I am thrilled to join The Star at this exciting stage of their expansion, and hope to help progress its cultural and diversity focus and achievements.”
The Star Entertainment Group Interim CEO and MD, Geoff Hogg said, “Zhan’s wealth of experience will be an asset to our Queensland-based surveillance and security team, particularly to a role and industry sector where women have traditionally been under-represented.”
“We value diversity of ideas and backgrounds and it’s rewarding to see the strides we have made in promoting gender equality are being reflected in our talent acquisition pipeline,” he said.
“We ensure the best people are recruited for the right roles, adhering to a policy that provides everyone with the same opportunities, reduces bias in the hiring process and fosters an inclusive workplace.”
Zhan will commence duties for The Star on September 5 dividing her time between both Queensland properties.
The Star Entertainment Group has a recognised commitment to promoting gender equality as one of only 12 new Australian businesses awarded a 2022 Workplace Gender Equality Agency ‘Employer of Choice for Gender Equality’ citation.
Australia
Newcastle Hotel Fined for Gaming Machine Offences
Newcastle hotel out of pocket $7,540 for gaming machine offences
A Newcastle hotel has been fined $7,540 after being convicted of operating gaming machines outside authorised hours.
The licensee of the Royal Inn Hotel at Waratah pleaded guilty to 13 offences under the Gaming Machines Act 2001 in Downing Centre Local Court on March 11 following an investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW.
Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, Jane Lin, said these were serious breaches of the state’s gaming laws.
“These restrictions are in place to reduce the risks of gambling harm by limiting the time patrons can spend playing gaming machines,” Lin said. “Apart from breaking the law, the Royal Inn Hotel placed its patrons at greater risk of gambling harm. As this case shows, venues that fail to abide by gaming machine trading hours can expect to be caught and face significant penalties.”
Liquor & Gaming NSW reviewed the hotel’s gaming activity and found that on Saturday, April 15, 22 and 29, 2023, gaming machines were operated during the shutdown period from 1am to 7am. The hotel submitted to the court that the breaches were a genuine misunderstanding of the licence conditions by the approved manager.
In sentencing, the magistrate noted the onus was on the licensee to ensure staff were appropriately trained and that a message had to be sent to those venues, which had the highly profitable right of operating gaming machines in New South Wales.
For free, confidential advice and support, call GambleAware on 1800 858 858 24/7 or visit www. GambleAware.nsw. gov. au.
Australia
AUSTRAC Commences Investigation into Online Betting Company Bet365
AUSTRAC has commenced an enforcement investigation into Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Limited (bet365).
The investigation will focus on whether bet365 has complied with its obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) and follows a supervisory campaign of entities within the corporate bookmaker sector and AUSTRAC’s consideration of the external audit report received following AUSTRAC’s order to bet365 to appoint an external auditor.
AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas, said betting agencies, like all regulated entities, have a significant role to play in combating financial crime.
“Corporate bookmakers must have robust systems in place to ensure they can manage and mitigate risks associated with money laundering and terrorism financing,” Mr Thomas said.
“Businesses without adequate processes in place to manage those risks leave themselves vulnerable to exploitation by criminals.”
Australia
Aristocrat Appoints Matthew Primmer as Chief Product Officer
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd announced the appointment of Mr Matthew (Matt) Primmer to the position of Chief Product Officer, reporting directly to Aristocrat CEO & Managing Director Trevor Croker. Mr Primmer’s appointment is effective immediately. He will join Aristocrat’s Executive Steering Committee, and remain based at the company’s offices in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mr Primmer comes to the role with over 20 years’ experience in the global gaming industry, including ten years at Aristocrat in a range of senior product strategy, insights and leadership roles in Australia and the US. Mr Primmer has been Chief Product Officer at Aristocrat Gaming for four years, leading Design & Development (D&D) in Aristocrat’s largest operating business, with casino game content and hardware comprising its most strategically important portfolios. Mr Primmer previously held marketing and sales roles at Ainsworth Game Technology and Shuffle Master. Mr Primmer holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong.
“I am delighted to elevate a global gaming executive of Matt’s calibre to our leadership team. Over the past decade, Matt has made a strong contribution to building and extending Aristocrat Gaming’s global product leadership, fostering our outstanding creative and technical talent, championing D&D and placing customer needs at the centre of our product strategy,” Mr Croker said.
“Matt’s appointment brings additional, proven gaming experience to the executive team. In his new role, Matt will help us maintain an enterprise view of product strategy as our business grows to encompass a broader range of product verticals, while also ensuring the most effective allocation of D&D investment” Croker added.
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