The Stars Group Inc., incorporated in and with principal offices in Canada, provided technology-based products in the global gaming and interactive entertainment industries. Its common shares were traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market.
In a press release on December 11, 2014, Amaya Inc., which would later change its name to The Stars Group Inc., disclosed that it was cooperating in an investigation by the securities regulator for the province of Quebec in Canada into certain trading activities in connection with Amaya's acquisition of another company. In its 40-F filed on May 26, 2015, the company confirmed that it had initiated an internal investigation into the potential violations of securities laws in Canada.
On November 11, 2016, Amaya disclosed that in the course of its internal investigation into the securities issues, it had discovered possible improper payments made to government officials outside of the U.S. and Canada. The company retained external counsel to further investigate the payments, and it reported the discovery to the DOJ, SEC, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, all three of which the company later confirmed initiated investigations into the matter.
In May 2020, The Stars Group was purchased by Flutter Entertainment plc, which proceeded to delist the company from the NASDAQ exchange and ceased making periodic reports to the SEC. The Stars Group's 40-F filed on February 27, 2020 contained the final mention of the investigation before the company's acquisition.
On March 6, 2023, the SEC issued a cease and desist order against Flutter for violations of the FCPA.
Though the status of any investigation by the DOJ is unknown, Flutter began filing reports with the SEC again in late 2023, and its most recent filing contains no mention of the DOJ investigation. Indeed, the company appears to be cooperating solely with Canadian authorities. Thus, the DOJ investigation is presumed closed.
