The Star Entertainment’s Sydney casino will remain under external management until June 30, 2027, as decided by the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC).
On Friday, the NICC extended the casino's licence suspension, citing persistent issues with the company’s governance, leadership, and corporate culture as significant reasons for this decision.
This extension allows manager Nick Weeks to continue overseeing the casino’s operations while its gaming facilities remain functional during the suspension.
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford acknowledged the improvements made by The Star but stressed that critical concerns regarding governance and cultural remediation still exist, which are vital for the casino to regain its operating licence.
"There is no doubt that The Star has come a long way in addressing the matters which led to the suspension of its casino licence in 2022," Crawford stated in a regulatory update.
However, Crawford expressed disappointment that despite the Sydney casino’s progress, the overall company continues to face issues that impact all its properties.
“The NICC will be watching carefully to see how The Star and The Star Entertainment Group resolve these issues. Both entities need to prove to the NICC that they have learned from past mistakes and can handle these cultural issues without requiring NICC intervention,” he added.
Crawford reiterated that The Star must demonstrate its commitment to underlying remediation efforts to ensure their long-term success.
The licence suspension, now extended, marks nearly four years since The Star lost its independent operating rights in October 2022, following the Bell inquiry findings. At that time, the casino was fined AU$100 million (approximately $70,286).
Since the initial suspension, the NICC has continually extended the pause on the licence and maintained external management under Weeks. The Star has been active in a remediation programme focusing on compliance, risk management, ethics, and senior management reforms.
In March 2025, Crawford acknowledged the ongoing advancements but pointed out that “ongoing uncertainty surrounding its finances” hampers faster progress.
The NICC noted that unresolved issues surrounding key leadership roles and the results of ongoing civil proceedings, initiated by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), remain barriers.
Australia’s Federal Court had found two former senior executives of The Star Entertainment Group guilty of breaching the Corporations Act 2001 due to their mishandling of money-laundering and criminal activity risk management.
Crawford noted, "These are all issues which need to be resolved before the NICC can lift The Star’s licence suspension, which can happen any time the casino shows it has effectively integrated its remediation efforts into the business."
The suspension will endure until the Commission is assured that the necessary reforms have been solidly established and are sustainable. In the meantime, Weeks continues to manage the high-profile Sydney casino situation under strict regulatory oversight.
Earlier in the year, the NICC reported that both Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney had been jointly fined AU$2.25 million (around $1.61 million) after a 16-year-old accessed their gaming venues using counterfeit identification documents.
