The Star Entertainment Group Limited (ASX:SGR)'s boss said he is still interested in taking over rival casino outfit Crown Resorts Limited (ASX:CWN) and will consider buying its new Sydney casino if Victoria's royal commission into the group orders it to break apart its business. The Star withdrew its $12 billion merger offer to the James Packer-backed Crown last month, citing "uncertainty" about the future of its operations and licences in light of the royal commissions under way in Victoria and WA. After releasing its full-year results 19 August 2021, Matt Bekier said a major cause of concern was that Victorian commissioner Ray Finkelstein unexpectedly raised the prospect of splitting up Crown to ensure its Melbourne casino was run by "Victorians for Victoria".

"I don't know what requirement will be imposed on Crown out of Victoria; with that uncertainty I don't know what we can and can't do," he said in an interview. But there were "different ways how you could cut the pie" depending on the outcomes of the royal commissions, Mr. Bekier said, including that The Star could take over Crown's new property at Barangaroo and maintain its monopoly over the Sydney casino market. "If you could do that at the right price, we'd look at that," he said.

"The biggest concern coming into Star's result was how they would deal with the lockdowns," he said.