Australia’s embattled The Star Entertainment Group has announced the appointment of veteran American casino executive John Koster as the group’s new CEO of The Star Sydney, pending regulatory approvals.
Koster had most recently served as the VP and General Manager of Bally’s Lake Tahoe, in the United States. The executive formerly held numerous executive roles in Caesars Entertainment and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts – including time in Thailand, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
In a social media post on Monday, The Star highlighted that ‘John is an accomplished casino and hotel executive with more than 40 years of industry experience, including nearly three decades in senior leadership roles across multiple U.S. states and internationally recognized resorts and hotels such as Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts and Harrah’s’.
The group furthered that ‘Having worked across five countries, John also brings diversified cultural exposure and a proven track record in leading large-scale hotel and casino organizations’.
Koster joins The Star after an extensive board restructuring following a lifeline investment by Bally’s Corp and Investment Holdings and amongst stringent measures to cut costs, refinance extensive debt and slim its asset portfolio in order for the company to stay afloat.
Koster replaces Janelle Campbell, who commenced in the role in February of 2024.
In its recent results, The Star flagged that ‘there remains material uncertainty regarding the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern’, following an AU$109.7 million ($77.4 million) loss for the fiscal half year ending December 31st, 2025.
Amongst its restructuring, The Star is streamlining corporate operations, shifting ‘essential support functions’ from its corporate office to the ‘property level in Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane’.
Koster will have a significant say in how The Star Sydney aims to turn around lagging operations, particularly given that the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) last September extended the suspension of The Star Sydney’s casino license until March 31st, 2026.