NSW Regulator Extends Star Sydney Licence Suspension to Mid-2027

The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has confirmed that the casino licence for The Star Sydney will remain suspended until at least 30 June 2027, despite acknowledging meaningful progress in the operator’s remediation program. The decision prolongs an oversight arrangement that has now stretched for more than four years and underscores the regulator’s continued concerns about governance, leadership and workplace culture at the embattled casino operator.

Suspension Remains in Force

On 25 September 2026, the NICC confirmed that the suspension of The Star Sydney’s casino licence would remain in effect, with the appointment of special manager Nicholas Weeks extended to 30 June 2027. Weeks, appointed by the regulator to manage the casino’s operations in place of Star Entertainment Group, will continue to oversee the venue’s gaming operations while the company works through its remediation obligations.

In announcing the extension, the regulator indicated that questions remained about the casino’s progress in improving its governance, leadership and culture – issues that have been central to the licence dispute since the first of two independent inquiries into the company.

The company itself acknowledged the decision in an ASX announcement, confirming that the licence suspension would remain in effect and that it would continue to work with the regulator on the remediation program.

A Prolonged Regulatory Process

The current suspension traces its origins to October 2022, when the NICC suspended The Star’s Sydney licence following the first Bell Inquiry, which found the company unsuitable to hold a casino licence. The regulator also imposed a $100 million penalty at that time and appointed a special manager. A second inquiry, led by Adam Bell SC in 2024, found that remediation had been insufficient, prompting an additional $15 million fine and further conditions on the licence.

Since then, the suspension has been extended on multiple occasions – to September 2025, then to March 2026, then to 30 September 2026 – with the latest decision pushing the review window to mid-2027. In June 2026, the NICC also levied a further A$10 million in fines against The Star Sydney for systemic failures related to historical financial crime and risk management deficiencies.

Queensland Outcome Differs

The NSW decision comes shortly after developments in Queensland, where the state government again deferred the suspension of The Star Gold Coast’s casino licence by six months, moving the effective date from 30 September 2026. Notably, reporting indicates that Weeks had earlier been prepared to recommend returning control of the Queensland licences, before revising his position amid ongoing governance concerns. Star’s Queensland properties remain under Weeks’ oversight, though their licences are not suspended.

The regulatory uncertainty persists against a backdrop of significant change for the company. Star Entertainment Group was acquired by Bally’s Corporation in late 2025, and in December of that year the board confirmed Soo Kim’s appointment as chairman following the departure of Bruce Mathieson Jnr. In March 2026, the company secured a three-year, $550 million refinancing facility from US-based credit firm WhiteHawk Capital Partners to cover existing debt and fund day-to-day operations. The company has also reported continued quarterly losses, and an AUSTRAC proceeding remains pending.