NSW regulator takes aim at casinos for allowing underage patron
The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has fined Crown Sydney $1.75 million and The Star Sydney $500,000 for allowing a minor to enter their venues on multiple occasions between April and August 2025.
The 16-year-old gained entry to Crown Sydney on 19 separate occasions, was able to attain silver membership status and served complimentary alcohol. He visited The Star Sydney on three separate occasions.
The minor gained entry to both casinos using a fraudulent driver’s license.
In addition to the pecuniary penalties, NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford said both casinos had undertaken to implement additional remediation measures including enhancements to their identity verification and customer onboarding processes, as well as additional staff training, following the incident.
“The NICC acknowledges that both casinos have accepted responsibility for the significant failures in their identity verification and customer onboarding processes which have allowed this minor to enter their venues repeatedly and over a significant period of time,” Mr Crawford said.
“However, this does not diminish the seriousness of allowing a 16-year-old to enter casino gaming areas and gamble away a significant amount of money. In the case of Crown Sydney this also included the illegal service and consumption of complimentary alcohol.
“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 breaches were investigated by Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&GNSW), which referred the matter to the NICC for possible disciplinary action.
“The breakdown in safeguards that allowed a vulnerable young person to repeatedly access casino gaming areas and suffer actual harm is unacceptable,” L&GNSW Executive Director, Regulatory Operations Dimitri Argeres said.
“L&GNSW will continue to monitor casino compliance with internal controls and other requirements designed to maintain the integrity of casino operations in NSW,” Mr Argeres said.
“Where breaches are identified, we will investigate and refer matters to the NICC for disciplinary action.”
Under the Casino Control Act 1992, the NICC has the power to take disciplinary action and impose fines of up to $100 million against a casino operator for serious breaches.
L&GNSW has also banned the minor from attending either casino for a five-year period commencing the day he turns 18 years of age.
