The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has extended the suspension of The Star Sydney’s casino license until March 31st, 2026, prolonging the regulatory oversight of the venue for another six months.
The decision, announced on September 24th, means operations at the Pyrmont casino will continue under the control of an independent manager, Nicholas Weeks, who was first appointed in October 2022 when the license was suspended. His mandate, originally set to expire on September 30th, 2025, has been extended unless lifted earlier by the NICC.
The NICC said it had reviewed submissions from both The Star and the manager in August and September 2025 but concluded the operator had not yet demonstrated sufficient improvement to warrant the restoration of its license. Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford noted that while remedial work is underway, the regulator could not yet deem The Star a suitable license holder.
The suspension follows findings from 2022 that the group had enabled money laundering and other compliance breaches, leading the regulator to determine it was ‘no longer in the public interest’ for the casino to operate under its license.
The extension comes as The Star Entertainment Group faces mounting financial pressure. The company delivered an unaudited net loss of AU$472 million ($312 million) for FY25 in late August, as it struggled to stay liquid under the impact of regulatory changes, the implementation of its remediation program, and a loss of market share.
The operator is also contending with strained relations with its lenders amid disputes over debt covenants and delays in finalising audited accounts. These challenges have compounded uncertainty over the group’s long-term recovery.
Group CEO and Managing Director Steve McCann said the company remained committed to its remediation plan and to working with regulators.
“We acknowledge that there is more work to do but we remain committed to delivering on our Remediation Plan to support the safe and compliant operation of our business,” McCann said. He added that the company would continue to engage constructively with the NICC, the manager, and the New South Wales government to prove its suitability as a license holder.
