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Ex-Bally’s executive named The Star Brisbane & Gold Coast CEO
The Star Entertainment Group has appointed former Bally’s executive Ameet Patel as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of two of its venues: The Star Brisbane and The Star Gold Coast.
Patel is set to replace Daniel Finch in the Brisbane location and Jennifer Cronin at the Gold Coast. The new appointee joins the company after serving roles at Bally’s, Sun International, and Penn Entertainment. Patel was the President at Bally’s Chicago and the SVP of Regional Operations at Penn.
Star Entertainment shared:
“We are pleased to advise that Ameet Patel has been appointed Dual Chief Executive Officer of The Star Brisbane and The Star Gold Coast, subject to all regulatory approvals. A senior executive with extensive experience in gaming, hospitality, and operations leadership across multiple regions, Ameet specialises in strategic planning, process redesign, financial analysis, talent development, and operational efficiencies.”
The appointment comes just after John Koster, another former Bally’s executive, stepped into the role of The Star Sydney’s CEO in March 2026. Additionally, Bally’s had previously acquired 38% of Star’s capital.
CEO and Managing Director of The Star Entertainment Group, Bruce Mathieson Jr commented:
“We look forward to working with Ameet as we continue to strengthen our leadership capability across The Star.”
Mathieson also replaced former CEO Steve McCann in December 2025, as the Mathieson family’s Investment Holdings owns a 23% stake in The Star.
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