Two casinos in Sydney have received fines exceeding AU$2 million after a 16-year-old was permitted to gamble on their premises. This youth reportedly lost a significant sum of money across at least 19 visits to Crown Sydney and three visits to The Star.
The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) issued a fine of AU$1.75 million (approximately $1.25 million) to Crown Sydney for its failure to prevent the minor's entrance. An investigation revealed that the casino granted the teenager silver membership status and illegally provided him with free alcohol.
The teen gained access using a fake driver's license during visits between April and August 2025. He also visited The Star on three separate occasions, leading to a fine of AU$500,000 (around $358,000) against that casino as well.
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford highlighted that the boy had “gambled away a significant amount of money” throughout his visits. Following an investigation by Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&GNSW), the NICC determined that both casinos had severely breached regulations.
Dimitri Argeres, the Executive Director of Regulatory Operations at L&GNSW, condemned the failure of safeguards that allowed a vulnerable youth to repeatedly access gaming areas and ultimately suffer harm.
In a further consequence, the boy has been banned from entering casinos for five years, with the legal gambling age in Australia set at 18. As a result, he will not be allowed in casinos until he reaches the age of 23.
Crown Sydney defended its actions, asserting that the boy's mother accompanied him during several visits. A representative from Crown stated, “Crown Sydney takes its obligations in relation to minors and the use of false identification extremely seriously,” and noted that it reported the underage gambling incident to the NICC as soon as it became aware of it.
Both casinos cooperated during the investigation and accepted responsibility for their failures. However, Crawford emphasized that this acceptance does not lessen the seriousness of allowing a minor to gamble, nor the illegal provision of complimentary alcohol in the case of Crown Sydney.
Calls for action against underage gambling in Australia are growing, with increasing concerns about minors engaging with gambling. Cricketer Usman Khawaja voiced his worries about the normalization of gambling among younger audiences, recalling how prevalent gambling advertising is in sports and its impact on youth.
Research from the Australian Institute indicates that approximately 30% of minors aged 12 to 17 participate in gambling, with Australians overall spending more on gambling than any other nation, averaging over $1,000 annually compared to about $524 for Americans.
In response to these issues, the Australian government is tightening regulations on gambling advertising. Effective January 1 of next year, Australians will be able to opt out of all online gambling advertisements, with services required to offer this option in order to display such ads. Individuals will have the opportunity to register with the government, enabling them to block gambling ads across various platforms, including streaming services and podcasts.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has previously warned social media influencers of potential prosecution for promoting illegal gambling. Despite this, instances of such promotions continue, as seen with influencer Dinah, who faced backlash for advertising a crypto casino.
Australia has also enacted a ban on social media use for minors. However, it remains uncertain whether these new measures will successfully combat the issue of underage gambling in the country.
