“No I don’t believe I was,” he replied. Walker said he knew how much Gu had gambled over the previous five years, that it was not unusual for high rollers to go through rough patches and he had read in the media about iProsperity’s large property deals.

“He was showing me the health of his business,” he said.

When Gu first came across to The Star from Crown in 2018, he had an outstanding $500,000 debt from a previous stint when he was a regular at the casino. The inquiry heard that his allegedly corrupt business partner at iProsperity, Harry Huang, transferred $600,000 to Star to cover the debt and provide “front money” for more gambling.

Walker said that he was aware that large deposits made into another person’s accounts raised money laundering risks, but that was something for the casino cage to monitor, and that it was not unusual for Huang to make the deposits for Gu when they gambled at Crown.

Walker insisted that he did not have a conflict of interest while dealing with Gu while the lucrative job offer was on the table, saying he had advised three superiors about the discussions which had not developed to a formal contract.

“Until I had a contract I didn’t have anything,” he told the inquiry.

The inquiry also heard claims that in January 2019, Gu verbally abused a staff member at The Star’s Gold Coast casino after she refused to cash in his chips in a manner that breached the casino policy, pointing in her face and saying: “you’re dead”.

Walker said in evidence that the staff member was responsible for the incident because she was “rude” to Gu by turning her back on him after refusing his request. Walker said he would have liked to arrange for Gu to apologise to the employee but knew he would never agree.

Walker said he told Gu his behaviour was unacceptable but also recommended The Star give him $100,000 worth of free gambling chips to show the company’s respect after the “service failure”. He also advised Gu on how to set up his own high-roller “junket” tour outfit that would have worked with The Star.

The inquiry continues. The Star’s chief financial officer Harry Theodore and recently departed chief executive Matt Bekier are due to give evidence this week.