The Star Entertainment’s Sydney casino will remain under external management until 30 June 2027, following a decision by the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) to extend its licence suspension. The regulator cited ongoing concerns about the company’s governance, leadership and corporate culture as key factors behind the decision announced on Friday.
The extension prolongs the tenure of manager Nick Weeks and permits the casino to continue operating its gaming facilities while its licence suspension persists. The decision marks nearly four years since The Star’s Sydney casino lost independent operating rights in October 2022, following findings from the Bell inquiry that resulted in a AU$100 million ($70,286) fine.
Progress Made But Questions Remain
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford acknowledged the operator’s progress while emphasising that significant questions remained regarding governance, leadership and culture remediation. “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 said in the regulator’s update.
However, he added: “It is disappointing that despite the progress made by the Sydney casino, the group company continues to experience problems that affect each of its properties.” Crawford stressed that both The Star and The Star Entertainment Group need to demonstrate they have learned from past mistakes and can resolve cultural issues without regulatory intervention.
Remediation Efforts Under Scrutiny
Since October 2022, the NICC has progressively extended the licence suspension and maintained external management under Weeks. The Star has been engaged in a comprehensive remediation programme addressing compliance, risk management, ethics and senior management reforms.
In a March 2025 statement, Commissioner Crawford noted continuing advancements but highlighted “ongoing uncertainty surrounding its finances” as a barrier to faster progress. The regulator has also pointed to unresolved uncertainties regarding critical leadership positions and the outcomes of ongoing civil proceedings initiated by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) in Federal Court.
Broader Compliance Failures
As part of the civil proceedings, two former senior executives of The Star Entertainment Group were found by Australia’s Federal Court to have breached the Corporations Act 2001, due to failures in managing and reporting money-laundering and criminal-activity risks.
“These are all issues which need to be resolved before the NICC can lift The Star’s licence suspension, which can occur at any time if the casino can demonstrate that its remediation efforts have been properly embedded in the business,” Crawford added.
Earlier this year, the NICC reported that Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney had been fined a combined total of AU$2.25 million ($1.61 million) after a 16-year-old repeatedly accessed their gaming floors using fraudulent identification documents. The suspension will continue until the Commission is confident the required reforms are firmly embedded and sustainable, with Weeks remaining at the helm under regulatory supervision.
“Ultimately it is The Star’s responsibility to demonstrate that it believes in its remediation efforts and that they can do the work to ensure its remediation sticks long-term,” Crawford concluded.
