Home » Billionaire Mathieson ups stake in Australian casino operator Star Entertainment

Billionaire Mathieson ups stake in Australian casino operator Star Entertainment

Billionaire Mathieson ups stake in Australian casino operator Star Entertainment

(Reuters) – A firm owned by Australian billionaire Bruce Mathieson has increased its stake in casino operator Star Entertainment to 8.21% from 6%, an exchange filing showed on Wednesday.

Following the stake increase, Mathieson’s Investment Holdings Pty is the largest shareholder in the casino operator.

The development comes at a time when Star Entertainment is facing a second inquiry into its Sydney casino operations after the company’s license to operate the casino was suspended in October 2022.

The company’s shares have lost about 83% since 2022.

Star Entertainment reported a smaller-than-expected drop in first-half profit in February amid intense competition and lower discretionary spending.

(Reporting by John Biju in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Shounak Dasgupta)