(AsiaGameHub) – New South Wales casino regulators have imposed A$10 million in penalties on The Star Sydney, with an additional A$5 million designated for compliance and financial crime prevention efforts.
These penalties were announced by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC). The review was conducted by four separate investigators, led by Liquor and Gaming NSW, in 2025.
The most significant sanction addresses shortcomings in the casino’s financial crime prevention measures. Regulators identified deficiencies in The Star’s customer risk assessment processes, noting that some patrons were not adequately evaluated.
Consequently, the casino has been fined A$5 million for systemic failures that occurred between July 2023 and September 2025. An additional A$5 million fine has been levied as a remediation fund to enhance technology systems for detecting financial crimes.
The NICC has also imposed a A$3 million fine related to a rewards program issue. This program permitted over 1,900 patrons to convert casino reward points into cash-equivalent benefits between 2018 and 2023.
Other penalties were focused on responsible gambling practices. The Star received a A$1.5 million fine for allowing patrons to exceed mandatory gambling break limits from May 2024 to April 2025. In some instances, players gambled continuously for over 36 hours.
A further penalty of A$500,000 was issued for permitting an excluded patron to enter the casino on nine separate occasions between February 2024 and May 2024.
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford has indicated that regulators have observed improvements at The Star.
Additional penalties have been recorded. In 2024, an operator was fined A$15 million following the second Bell Inquiry, which investigated the company’s suitability to retain its casino license after significant money laundering issues were uncovered.
The Star’s Sydney license is currently suspended, and casino operations are being overseen by NICC-appointed manager Nick Weeks.
Concurrently, the company is undergoing restructuring efforts following a A$300 million investment from Bally’s Corporation and Investment Holdings, which has secured them a majority stake in The Star Entertainment Group.
The operators reported a net loss exceeding A$75 million in the first half of 2026. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is seeking penalties against former CEO Matt Bekier, proposing a A$1.3 million fine and a ban from the gambling industry.
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