The Star Sydney casino fined $15 million as licence remains under review

The Star Sydney has been hit with a $15 million penalty but will retain its licence, under conditions, after a detailed regulatory investigation.
The NSW Independent Casino Commission confirmed the fine today and outlined a set of strict licence requirements.
This means the troubled casino – flagged for leadership and cultural issues – can continue operating but will stay under close regulatory oversight.
The future of Sydney’s Star is now being reassessed following the release of another critical report.

The future of Sydney’s Star remains uncertain after the $15 million fine. (Dion Georgopoulos/AFR)
NICC chief commissioner Philip Crawford said the Star showed repeated compliance lapses and that its operations still “fell short of suitability”.
“Although closer oversight prevented misconduct on the scale seen in the first inquiry, serious weaknesses in governance, compliance, systems and risk management persist, even in areas Star claimed were fixed,” Crawford noted.
“Overhauling systems, processes, and culture is crucial in a business as complex as Star’s.
“In a casino environment, compliance failures carry severe risks, and the Bell Report showed how quickly weak controls can enable criminal influence and gambling harm.”

The Star casino in Sydney Pyrmont
The venue faced scrutiny for leadership and cultural concerns. (Edwina Pickles)
The NICC said it will continue to monitor Star’s operations as it reviews the casino’s ability to maintain a licence.
The current restrictions will remain in place until March 2025.
“Further reforms are required before Star can be recognised as a responsible, compliant licence holder,” Crawford stated.
He also stressed the regulator considered the thousands of employees working at the casino.
“For some time, we’ve recognised the importance of jobs to the public interest,” he said.
“If Sydney Star collapses, the entire Star group could fall, a company with over 9000 staff … many livelihoods would be at risk.”
Star Entertainment earlier entered a trading halt in August after the NICC published its Bell Report findings.