New South Wales’ casino regulator has imposed A$10m in fines on The Star Sydney, while the operator must also set aside a further A$5m for compliance upgrades.
The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) announced the penalties today (1 June). They stem from four separate disciplinary matters investigated by Liquor and Gaming NSW during 2025, all of which were referred to the commission for formal action.
The most serious matter relates to systemic failures in financial crime risk management. The casino was previously fined A$15m for similar breaches in 2024.
In addition to the A$10m in fines announced today, an enforceable undertaking requires a further A$5m be held in a dedicated remediation fund to upgrade the casino’s technology for managing financial crime risk.
Shortcomings were identified in The Star’s Customer Risk Rating Model and Enhanced Customer Due Diligence processes. In some instances, the casino failed to properly assess whether a customer posed money laundering or terrorism financing risks.
The largest individual fine, set at A$5m, was issued following “systemic failures in financial crime risk operations between July 2023 and September 2025”.
A A$3m fine covers a separate breach. Between December 2018 and November 2023, at least 1,898 patrons converted casino reward points to cash, allowing them to use comp dollars to reimburse airfares and other travel expenses.
Two further fines address patron welfare and exclusion failures. The Star was penalised an additional A$1.5m for allowing patrons to exceed mandatory break thresholds between May 2024 and April 2025.
In more serious cases, patrons were able to gamble for more than 36 hours straight. A A$500,000 fine covers nine occasions between February and May 2024 on which an excluded patron was allowed to enter.
Star Entertainment on the mend
NICC chief commissioner Philip Crawford described the disciplinary matters as disappointing but said the commission had seen “considerable progress” at The Star under new leadership.
He noted that many breaches predated technology upgrades, including mandatory carded play. The enforceable undertaking is the first the NICC has issued since the tool became available under 2022 legislative changes.
The new penalties add to a lengthy regulatory record. In October 2024, the NICC imposed a separate A$15m fine following the second Bell inquiry into The Star’s suitability to hold a casino licence.
The 2022 Bell inquiry found significant anti-money laundering failings and determined management at the time to be unsuitable to maintain licensure.
That led to the suspension of the casino’s operating licences in New South Wales and Queensland.
The Star’s Sydney licence remains suspended, with NICC-appointed manager Nick Weeks retaining oversight of casino operations.
Bally’s Corporation has received regulatory approval after The Star accepted an A$300m investment from the US operator and Investment Holdings to acquire 56.7% of shares in The Star Entertainment Group.
The Star reported a significant net loss of over A$75m for the first half of fiscal 2026. The NICC has cited Bally’s involvement and new management as positive factors in its remediation assessment.
More recently, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has sought penalties against former Star Entertainment Group CEO Matt Bekier.
It wants an A$1.3m fine and a ban on Bekier in the gambling industry for his role in the company’s downfall.
