This Month
Aristocrat pops as pokies giant takes share in lucrative US market
Shares soared nearly 12 per cent after it rewarded shareholders with a 6¢ increase to its fully franked interim dividend. It expects to continue to grow there.
- Zoe Samios
April
Another casino operator is in trouble. Nobody is talking about it
Star Entertainment has been tearing itself apart. But SkyCity is also in a world of pain, with lenders sceptical, money tight and management in disarray.
- Zoe Samios
Star Entertainment is eating itself alive
How far will the regulator push the company? How much damage have squabbling executives done? An inquiry into the Sydney casino operator is getting ugly.
- Kylar Loussikian and Zoe Samios
Broken Star cash machine gushed cash and exposed ‘deep cultural’ issue
For weeks, one terminal paid out millions to patrons who already cashed their wins. “Numerous failures” prevented the fraud being detected, an inquiry heard.
- Kylar Loussikian and Zoe Samios
March
Aristocrat rival says it did not steal trade secrets for dragon game
Aristocrat is suing its main rival over claims it used confidential trade secrets to rip off one of its games. Light & Wonder has attempted to have the process thrown out of court.
- Zoe Samios
Pokie rivals in bitter court dispute over dragon games
Aristocrat claims it has lost revenue and market share to its rival, which allegedly copied one of its top games. Light & Wonder described the lawsuit as baseless.
- Zoe Samios
‘Limiting it to obscurity’: Ainsworth investor slams strategic review
Ainsworth Game Technology, founded by rich lister Len Ainsworth, could talk itself private. A strategic review is infuriating some investors.
- Zoe Samios
February
Philip Crawford is on a one-man crusade against Star Entertainment
Depending on who is asked, the corporate lawyer turned casino regulator is either keeping the bastards honest – or hounding them out of business.
- Zoe Samios
December 2023
- Exclusive
- Board shake-up
Mathieson Group says Endeavour chairman’s days are numbered
With tensions unresolved, the Mathieson camp says it is prepared to call an extraordinary general meeting if Peter Hearl does not step down.
- Carrie LaFrenz
November 2023
Ainsworth confirms Macquarie review, could take itself private
Aristocrat said it was assessing all strategic options, but has received no expressions of interest.
- Zoe Samios
Aristocrat’s investors aren’t spooked by casino, bookie headwinds
The largest pokies manufacturer in the world is one of the few gaming stocks to have enjoyed an increase in share price during a difficult year for the sector.
- Zoe Samios
October 2023
Endeavour sales miss market expectations as focus switches to returns
The company’s largest investor, billionaire publican Bruce Mathieson, says revenue is in “absolute free fall”. The retailer holds its annual meeting on Tuesday.
- Simon Evans and Carrie LaFrenz
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Endeavour Group peace only comes with a scalp – the chairman’s
The hotels and pub group’s board will have the numbers at its AGM next week. But chairman Peter Hearl has two choices: claim a fleeting victory or read the room.
- Anthony Macdonald
Bill Wavish outlines his Endeavour fix-it plan to investors
The former chairman of Myer and Dick Smith set out his two-part agenda in a 22-page slide deck sent to fund managers.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Simon Evans
August 2023
Endeavour boss says top drops are still selling
The company behind Dan Murphy’s and BWS says shoppers are still willing to spend on a $40 bottle of wine or a premium champagne.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz
Star shares surge after casino lands favourable NSW pokies tax deal
The company’s shares had been falling amid investor concerns about a tax increase and broader worries about penalties to be levied for breaches of money-laundering laws.
- Updated
- Samantha Hutchinson
July 2023
Endeavour beats Victorian pokies deadline, job losses possible
Endeavour boss Steve Donohue will move to introduce harm-minimisation measures ahead of the timeline set by the Victorian government.
- Zoe Samios
Endeavour slumps on profit hit from Victorian pokies restrictions
Analysts at Goldman Sachs said the changes, announced on Sunday, would lower the company’s earnings by as much as 1.8 per cent this financial year.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
Crown set to be a winner from Victorian pokies clampdown
The Southbank casino will be exempt from new rules forcing the closure of gaming machines between 4am and 10am, announced by the government on Sunday.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
$10b Vegas pokies giant is here, but you wouldn’t know it
Fundies are screaming out for more gaming stocks. Light & Wonder put its hand up, but investors can’t get their hands on stock. Something has got to give.
- Anthony Macdonald
