Sydney Casino’s licence suspension to stay, as manager tenure extended
The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has extended the suspension of The Star Entertainment Group’s Sydney casino licence for a further six months, while the NSW Government has amended regulations to keep manager Nick Weeks in control until September 30.
The move follows confirmation that Star Entertainment Group will not seek a licence suitability determination for their Sydney Casino at this stage, instead submitting a pathway to regain regulatory approval.
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford said the regulator is working closely with the company’s new leadership as it implements operational and financial reforms following serious compliance failures identified in earlier inquiries.
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“The new owners are making significant changes to the operation of the business which are being monitored closely by the NICC,” Mr Crawford said.
“This includes work to make the business more financially sustainable in the long term which will assist them in demonstrating suitability.
“We will continue to work with The Star on their remediation priorities so that the casino can remedy the serious concerns raised in the two Bell inquiries.”
The extension allows The Star to continue operating gaming activities under external oversight while remediation efforts continue, with the NICC maintaining that further progress is required before suitability can be reconsidered.
The NICC first appointed Mr Weeks to the role of manager in October 2022, when The Star’s casino licence was suspended following the first Bell Review.
The Bell Review, led by Adam Bell SC, was an inquiry into The Star Entertainment Group’s suitability to hold a casino licence in New South Wales. It found the company unsuitable due to systemic governance failures, money laundering risks and misleading regulators, prompting major reforms and ongoing regulatory oversight.
