The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) announced on Wednesday that Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney have been fined a collective AU$2.25 million (US$1.61 million) following the unauthorized entry of a 16-year-old using fraudulent identification. The teenager accessed Crown Sydney’s gaming areas 19 times between April and August 2025, even achieving silver membership status and being served complimentary alcohol. This same individual also entered The Star Sydney three times. The incidents were investigated by Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW), which found that both casinos failed to detect the counterfeit identification documents, leading to illegal access by the minor.
Following the investigation, Crown Sydney was fined AU$1.75 million while The Star Sydney faced a penalty of AU$500,000. Philip Crawford, the Chief Commissioner of the NICC, described these violations as “significant failures,” highlighting the risks involved when minors gain access to gambling venues. He emphasized the necessity of robust identity verification processes to prevent such breaches, which also serve as a deterrent against fraud and criminal activities in New South Wales casinos. The NICC stressed that these fines are both punitive and serve as a warning to the broader industry on the necessity of strict compliance with age verification protocols.
Dimitri Argeres, Executive Director of Regulatory Operations at L&GNSW, commented on the incident as a major ‘breakdown in safeguards,’ pointing out the potential harm to which the young individual was exposed. Argeres assured that L&GNSW would maintain vigilant oversight of casino compliance regarding internal controls and other standards intended to uphold the integrity of casino operations across New South Wales. Under the Casino Control Act 1992, the NICC holds broad disciplinary authority, including the capacity to impose fines reaching up to AU$100 million for severe infractions.
In addition to the fines, a five-year ban has been imposed on the minor by L&GNSW, preventing them from entering Crown Sydney or The Star Sydney until after their 18th birthday. This development follows closely on the heels of The Star Sydney’s recent license suspension due to regulatory concerns, an action extended by the NICC after an inquiry concluded that the venue was unfit for continued operation owing to insufficient progress in remedying previous issues.
The penalties highlight the ongoing challenges casinos face in adhering to regulatory standards, particularly in ensuring the legality and safety of their operations. Moving forward, the focus will remain on the implementation and enforcement of more rigorous compliance protocols. The NICC and L&GNSW are expected to keep a close watch on the industry’s adherence to these regulations, with further reviews likely to assess the effectiveness of the measures in place to prevent similar breaches in the future.
Topics: Licensing · Gambling Regulation · Enforcement
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