The Star Sydney Penalized Following Major Regulatory Investigation

Regulators Impose Multi-Million Dollar Penalties

The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has announced AU$10 million in fines against The Star Sydney following an extensive investigation conducted by Liquor & Gaming NSW.

The enforcement action stems from a series of compliance failures identified across the casino’s operations, covering responsible gambling obligations, financial crime risk management, and patron exclusion measures.

Responsible Gambling Breaches Lead to AU$1.5 Million Fine

Among the most serious findings, regulators determined that The Star allowed customers to exceed the state's mandatory daily gambling limit of 12 hours within a 24-hour period.

According to the investigation, some patrons remained on the gaming floor for more than 36 consecutive hours. As a result, the casino received a AU$1.5 million penalty for failing to enforce responsible gambling requirements.

Rewards Program Violations Trigger Additional Penalty

The casino was also fined AU$3 million after authorities found that loyalty and rewards points had been converted into cash-equivalent benefits.

The practice reportedly involved at least 1,898 patrons and was deemed to be in breach of regulatory requirements governing casino reward programs.

Failure to Enforce Patron Exclusion Measures

An additional AU$500,000 fine was imposed after The Star failed to prevent a banned customer from entering the casino on nine separate occasions between February and May 2024.

The incident highlighted weaknesses in the property's exclusion and monitoring systems, according to regulators.

Financial Crime Control Deficiencies Result in Largest Fine

The most substantial penalty, totaling AU$5 million, related to systemic deficiencies in The Star’s financial crime risk management framework between July 2023 and September 2025.

In addition to the financial penalty, the NICC has directed the operator to allocate a further AU$5 million toward technology upgrades designed to strengthen anti-money laundering controls and improve the detection and prevention of financial crime.

NICC Acknowledges Progress Under New Leadership

Despite the disciplinary action, NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford noted that many of the breaches occurred before the implementation of recent remediation initiatives.

Crawford said regulators have observed meaningful improvements in the company’s compliance efforts under its current leadership team.

According to the commissioner, the revised remediation programs, technological enhancements, and the involvement of Bally's Corporation have contributed significantly to The Star’s ongoing recovery and regulatory reform process.

Continued Scrutiny for The Star

The latest penalties represent another setback for The Star Entertainment Group as the company continues efforts to rebuild trust with regulators and demonstrate compliance with Australia’s increasingly stringent casino oversight framework.

The enforcement action underscores the growing focus of Australian regulators on responsible gambling protections, anti-money laundering controls, and stronger governance standards across the casino industry.