(Reuters) – Star Entertainment Group’s first-half statutory loss widened, the casino operator said on Thursday, as it navigates through regulatory concerns and costs related to compliance procedures.
The company’s earnings took a hit from the increased regulatory restrictions at its Sydney operations from mid-September, and rise in competition since the opening of Crown Resort’s Sydney operations in August after the New South Wales (NSW) regulator granted it a licence.
Star said it “continues to pursue the recycling of non-core assets, including the Treasury buildings,” adding that the asset is expected to contribute A$233.0 million in additional cash.
The second largest Australian casino operator posted statutory net loss after tax of A$1.26 billion ($858.19 million) for the six months ended Dec. 31, compared with A$74.2 million in losses last year.
The firm, however, posted A$43.6 million in normalised net profit after tax for first-half, compared with A$73.7 million in losses last year.
($1 = 1.4682 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Riya Sharma and Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Shailesh Kuber)
