The Star Sydney suspension extended amid governance concerns
The NSW Independent Casino Commission said progress has been made on remediation, but unresolved governance and leadership issues remain before the suspension can be lifted.
Key takeaways:
- The Star Sydney’s casino licence suspension has been deferred until June 30, 2027.
- Nick Weeks will remain the casino’s manager until the same date.
- NICC says governance, leadership and culture remediation remain unresolved.
Australia.- The suspension of The Star Sydney’s casino licence has been deferred until June 30, 2027, following a request from the NSW Independent Casino Commission. The extension allows the casino to continue operating its gaming facilities while NICC assesses governance, leadership and culture reforms before deciding if the suspension can be lifted. The term of The Star Sydney’s manager, Nick Weeks, has been extended until the same date.
Philip Crawford, NICC chief commissioner, said The Star had made progress, but questions remained about the casino’s progress on governance, leadership and culture remediation. The Star is still awaiting the outcome of the civil proceedings brought against it by AUSTRAC in the Federal Court.
He said: “It is disappointing that despite the progress made by the Sydney casino, the Group company continues to experience problems that affect each of its properties. The NICC will be watching carefully to see how The Star and The Star Entertainment Group resolve these issues. Both companies need to demonstrate to the NICC that they have learnt from past mistakes and can resolve these cultural issues without the need for the NICC’s intervention. Ultimately, it is The Star’s responsibility to demonstrate that it believes in its remediation efforts and that they can do the work to ensure its remediation sticks long-term.”
The Star Gold Coast casino licence
Earlier this week, the suspension of The Star Gold Coast’s casino licence was deferred to March 31, 2027 in line with advice from Weeks. In his report, Weeks acknowledged The Star had made significant progress across its key remediation and reform initiatives, while noting that several priority remediation matters remain in progress. He noted several developments since his previous report, including implementation of a range of organisational and financial reforms.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- When will The Star Sydney’s licence suspension end? The suspension has been deferred until June 30, 2027. However, NICC can lift it earlier if The Star demonstrates that its remediation measures are properly embedded.
- Why was The Star Sydney’s licence suspension extended? NICC said unresolved issues remain around governance, leadership and culture, despite progress in addressing the matters that led to the suspension in 2022.
