The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) announced on Wednesday that Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney have been fined a total of AU$2.25 million (US$1.61 million) after a 16-year-old was found to have repeatedly accessed their gaming areas using fake identification.
From April to August 2025, the teenager gained entry to Crown Sydney 19 times, securing silver membership status and receiving complimentary alcohol despite being underage. Additionally, this individual entered The Star Sydney three times during the same interval. Investigations indicated that both casinos failed to identify the counterfeit identification, allowing the minor to illegally enter gambling spaces.
Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) conducted an investigation into these violations and subsequently referred the case to the NICC. The findings confirmed that the underage visitor used a forged driver's license to circumvent identity checks at both establishments.
For their respective roles in this incident, Crown Sydney faced a penalty of AU$1.75 million, while The Star Sydney was fined AU$500,000. NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford described these breaches as "significant failures," stressing the seriousness of letting a minor into gaming areas. He pointed out that Crown Sydney had further violations, including providing complimentary alcohol to the underage guest.
Crawford stated, "Maintaining effective identity verification processes is not only a necessary tool in the protection of minors but for detecting fraud and criminal activity in NSW casinos." The NICC noted that these fines are intended to serve as both punishment and a cautionary message to the industry about the necessity of strict compliance with age restrictions and verification protocols.
Dimitri Argeres, the executive director of regulatory operations at L&GNSW, commented that this incident marked a serious "breakdown in safeguards," highlighting the significant risk posed to a vulnerable young person. He pledged that L&GNSW would continue to oversee casino compliance with regulations designed to uphold the integrity of operations in the state.
Under the Casino Control Act 1992, the NICC has considerable power to impose disciplinary actions, including fines up to AU$100 million for severe breaches. In addition, L&GNSW has imposed a five-year ban on the minor from attending Crown Sydney or The Star Sydney casinos, effective upon the individual’s 18th birthday.
This fine arrives shortly after The Star Sydney had its license suspended due to concerns over its operational oversight, with the NICC extending the suspension following an inquiry that deemed the venue unsuitable for ongoing operations. The investigation revealed that the casino had not made sufficient progress in its remediation efforts from the initial probe.
