The Star Sydney has taken another regulatory hit in New South Wales, with its casino licence still suspended and a government-appointed manager still in place.
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The Star Sydney will pay A$10m after the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission found long-running failures tied to financial crime controls and responsible gambling. The regulator also used an enforceable undertaking to make the casino set aside A$5m for technology upgrades in financial crime risk management.
That second order matters because it targets systems, not just punishment. Australian casino regulators have pushed operators to strengthen anti-money laundering checks, safer gambling controls and customer risk monitoring after years of public inquiries into Crown and The Star.
The Star Sydney licence remains suspended. The property still operates under an NICC-appointed manager while the company works through remediation.
Liquor and Gaming NSW investigated thousands of breaches between December 2018 and September 2025. NICC said the failures left customers exposed to gambling harm and created risk of criminal infiltration. Some breaches came through The Star remediation program, while others were self-reported.
Philip Crawford, Chief Commissioner of NICC, said:
“Imposing these fines along with the enforceable undertaking reiterates the seriousness with which the NICC considers any breaches that leave customers vulnerable to gambling harm or casinos vulnerable to criminal infiltration.”
The Star said it can pay the penalties in stages through June 30, 2027. That helps near-term cash flow after the operator recently reported a third-quarter loss, with weaker table games revenue and seasonal softness.
Bruce Mathieson Jr, Chief Executive Officer of The Star, said:
“We will continue to engage constructively with the NICC in respect of The Star Sydney as we work through our remediation program.”
The fine adds to a longer recovery fight for The Star. The company needs to convince regulators that its Sydney casino can return to licence suitability. Until then, the A$15m package works as both a penalty and a test of whether the operator can rebuild compliance around financial crime risk and safer gambling.