The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has imposed a hefty fine of A$10 million (approximately $7.18 million) on The Star Entertainment's Sydney casino due to ongoing issues related to historical financial misconduct and risks associated with responsible gambling. This penalty adds to the regulatory hurdles faced by the troubled operator.
On Monday, the NICC also mandated that The Star Sydney allocate an additional A$5 million to enhance the technology used in managing financial crime risks.
These sanctions come at a time when The Star Sydney's casino license is still suspended, and the establishment is operating under a manager appointed by the NICC as the company works to rectify compliance issues.
The NICC revealed that an investigation by Liquor and Gaming NSW uncovered numerous violations at The Star Sydney between December 2018 and September 2025. These violations included failures in managing financial crime risks and responsible gambling measures, which left patrons exposed to gambling-related harm and the casino vulnerable to criminal activities.
Many of these violations were detected through the casino's remediation efforts and subsequent investigations, while others were voluntarily disclosed by The Star, according to the NICC.
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford noted that some violations occurred prior to the implementation of more structured remediation strategies and technological improvements.
“The imposition of these fines, along with the enforceable undertaking, underscores the NICC's commitment to addressing breaches that jeopardize customer safety and allow criminal infiltration into casinos,” Crawford stated.
This enforcement action represents yet another challenge for The Star as it strives to restore its Sydney casino license. In a separate announcement, The Star indicated that the regulator has permitted the company to pay the fines in installments until June 30, 2027.
“We are committed to engaging positively with the NICC regarding The Star Sydney as we progress with our remediation efforts,” said Chief Executive Officer Bruce Mathieson Jr.
The ability to stagger the payments may alleviate some immediate financial strain on the casino operator, which recently reported a loss for the third quarter, attributed to seasonal downturns and decreased revenue from table games.