NSW Regulator Extends The Star Sydney Casino Licence Suspension Until June 2027
NSW's casino regulator keeps The Star Sydney under external management until 30 June 2027, citing unfilled leadership roles and a pending AUSTRAC case.
What the NICC Decided
The Star Sydney will stay under external management until 30 June 2027 at the latest, after the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) extended the suspension of its casino licence on 25 September 2026.
Manager Nick Weeks remains in charge of the Pyrmont casino, which continues to offer gaming while the licence is suspended.
The extension adds roughly nine months to the arrangement. It was made through an amendment to the Casino Control Regulation 2019, which the Minister for Gaming and Racing made at the commission's request.
The NICC said the suspension could be lifted at any point once it is satisfied that reforms are embedded, so the new date is a ceiling rather than a fixed release date.
Why the Regulator Is Not Ready to Hand Back Control
Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford acknowledged real progress at the Sydney property, saying there was no doubt The Star had come a long way. He added that problems at group level still affect every property the company runs.
The commission wants both The Star and its parent, The Star Entertainment Group, to show they have learned from past failures and can deal with cultural issues without the regulator stepping in.
Several gaps remain. Critical leadership and governance positions are still unfilled, and the NICC described recent allegations about governance, leadership and culture at the casino as serious.
The regulator also pointed to the unresolved civil penalty case brought by AUSTRAC, Australia's financial intelligence agency, in the Federal Court over alleged breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.
The NICC placed the burden of proof on the company, saying it is up to The Star to demonstrate that its remediation will last.
How The Star Reached This Point
An external manager has run The Star Sydney since October 2022, when the Bell review concluded the operator was unsuitable to hold a casino licence. The regulator suspended the licence at that point and imposed a fine of AU$100 million.
The clean-up since then has focused on tightening compliance and risk controls, reworking the ethics framework and replacing much of the senior leadership.
Date | Development |
|---|---|
October 2022 | Licence suspended after the Bell review, AU$100 million fine, external manager appointed |
March 2025 | Suspension extended by six months as the NICC flags uncertainty over the group's finances |
August 2026 | The Star Sydney and Crown Sydney penalised AU$2.25 million in total over a 16-year-old who got onto their gaming floors several times using fake ID |
25 September 2026 | Manager's term extended to 30 June 2027 |
In a separate case, the Federal Court ruled that two of the group's former senior executives breached their duties under the Corporations Act 2001 by failing to deal properly with money laundering and criminal activity risks and to report them.
What It Means for Visitors and the Wider Industry
For visitors, day-to-day operations do not change. The casino stays open and gaming continues under the manager's supervision.
For the industry, the decision confirms that Australian casino regulators now judge operators on culture and governance, not only on technical compliance. A property can fix its procedures and still remain under supervision while leadership questions are open.
Online casino games cannot legally be offered to people in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, which keeps licensed venues such as The Star at the centre of the country's casino oversight.
The next tests are whether The Star can fill its senior roles and satisfy the commission before the new deadline, and how the AUSTRAC proceedings conclude.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The casino continues to operate and offer gaming under an external manager, Nick Weeks, while its licence remains suspended.
The current extension runs until 30 June 2027 at the latest. The NICC said it could lift the suspension earlier if it is satisfied that reforms are embedded, but it has not set a date.
The licence was suspended in October 2022 after the Bell review found The Star unsuitable to hold it, following findings about governance, culture and exposure to money laundering risks. The operator was also fined AU$100 million.
AUSTRAC, Australia's financial intelligence agency, brought civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court alleging that Star entities breached anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. The NICC noted that the case has not yet been decided.
Paolo Pellegrini is Casino Adventurer's news editor, based in Rome, where he was born and raised. He covers the stories shaping the online gambling industry, from new regulations and tax changes to market openings and major deals, and always explains what they mean for players. He's naturally curious and starts every morning with the news and a strong espresso. Outside work, he's a lifelong AS Roma fan and loves cooking for friends on Sundays.
More iGaming News
Read more
Bulgaria Drafts Near-Total Gambling Ad Ban, Higher Online Fees and End of Affiliate Licences
Bulgaria's draft Gambling Act bans nearly all gambling ads, ends affiliate licences in 2027 and lifts online fees to 22%. Comments close 23 October.
Leaked CGA Files Show Stake Operator Got Curaçao Licence Before Ownership Checks Finished
Leaked CGA files show Medium Rare N.V., which runs Stake, got a conditional Curaçao licence in June 2025 while its ownership was still under review.
Malta Replaces Flat 5% Gaming Tax With 15% and 10% Rates From 1 October
Malta swaps its flat 5% gaming tax for 15% and 10% rates from 1 October 2026 and narrows its gambling VAT exemption. Who pays and what changes.