SkyCity Adelaide Pty Ltd (ACN 082 362 061) (‘SkyCity Adelaide’) holds the licence to operate the casino located on North Terrace, Adelaide.
SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited is a New Zealand based company and is the ultimate holding company for SkyCity Adelaide.
The Honourable Brian Martin AO KC has been appointed to conduct an investigation under section 22(2) of the Casino Act 1997 (SA) in regard to the suitability of SkyCity Adelaide and SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited.
The investigation is into the suitability of SkyCity Adelaide to continue to hold the casino licence under the Casino Act 1997 and the suitability of SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited to continue to be a close associate of SkyCity Adelaide.
See the full terms of reference (PDF, 109.3 KB).
Investigation progress
Following the conclusion of the AUSTRAC (the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre) proceedings on 7 June 2024, Acting Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Fraser Stroud determined that Mr Martin's investigation should resume after being placed on hold in February 2023.
Developments since the investigation was put on hold - including the appointment of Kroll Australia as Independent Monitor and the conclusion of the AUSTRAC proceedings - will be considered by Mr Martin as the investigation resumes.
Mr Martin's investigation is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
Read the Notice to recommence the investigation (PDF, 418.8 KB)
Independent Monitor appointed
On 23 August 2023, Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Dini Soulio approved the appointment of consultancy Kroll as the Independent Monitor to monitor the compliance of SkyCity Adelaide, the operator of the Adelaide Casino.
Kroll will monitor work undertaken by SkyCity Adelaide to comply with its anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and gambling-related harm minimisation responsibilities.
Read the Commissioner's media release for more information about the appointment
Commissioner's direction
On Monday 29 May 2023, the Commissioner for Liquor and Gambling confirmed he had directed SkyCity Adelaide to establish a comprehensive program of work to ensure it is meeting its anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and gambling harm minimisation obligations.
An Independent Monitor with industry expertise will also be appointed to monitor the development and implementation of the program of work.
Read the Commissioner's media release for more information about the direction
Pausing the investigation due to AUSTRAC proceedings
On 7 February 2023, Mr Martin advised the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Dini Soulio that it was not possible to reliably determine the question of suitability until the resolution of proceedings by AUSTRAC. The investigation was subsequently placed on hold.
Allegations raised in the AUSTRAC proceedings, as well as preliminary matters raised by Mr Martin, were put to SkyCity while the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner considered his options regarding potential action.
Read the Commissioner’s media release for more
Read the Extension of time to finalise the investigation (PDF, 197.7 KB)
About the investigation
Mr Martin is a retired Supreme Court Justice, who was appointed as the Senior Crown Prosecutor in 1982 and as a King's Counsel in 1984.
He subsequently became the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions before being appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia in 1999.
He was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Northern Territory in 2004 and held the position until 2010. Between February 2012 and November 2012, Mr Martin was also an Acting Judge of the Western Australian Supreme Court.