Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney hit with significant fines after a minor gained entry to both casinos
The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has fined two casinos for allowing a minor to enter their venues on multiple occasions.
Crown Resorts-owned Crown Sydney has been fined A$1.75 million after a 16 year-old gained entry to the casino on 19 separate occasions and was able to consume complimentary alcohol and attain silver membership status.
The same minor also visited The Star Sydney, owned by Star Entertainment Group and fined A$500,000, on three separate occasions.
The minor gained entry to both casinos between April and August 2025 using a fraudulent driver’s license.
“The NICC acknowledges that both casinos have accepted responsibility for the significant failures in their identity verification and customer onboarding processes which have allowed this minor to enter their venues repeatedly and over a significant period of time,” said NICC chief commissioner Philip Crawford.
“However, this does not diminish the seriousness of allowing a 16-year-old to enter casino gaming areas and gamble away a significant amount of money. In the case of Crown Sydney this also included the illegal service and consumption of complimentary alcohol.
“Maintaining effective identity verification processes is not only a necessary tool in the protection of minors but for detecting fraud and criminal activity in NSW casinos.”
In addition to the pecuniary penalties, both casinos have implemented additional remediation measures, including enhancements to their identity verification and customer onboarding processes, as well as additional staff training, following the incident.
The breaches were investigated by Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&GNSW), which referred the matter to the NICC for possible disciplinary action.
“The breakdown in safeguards that allowed a vulnerable young person to repeatedly access casino gaming areas and suffer actual harm is unacceptable,” said Dimitri Argeres, L&GNSW executive director of regulatory operations. “L&GNSW will continue to monitor casino compliance with internal controls and other requirements designed to maintain the integrity of casino operations in NSW.
“Where breaches are identified, we will investigate and refer matters to the NICC for disciplinary action.”
Under the Casino Control Act 1992, the NICC has the power to take disciplinary action and impose fines of up to $100 million against a casino operator for serious breaches.
Alongside the operator penalties, L&GNSW has banned the minor from attending either casino for a five-year period commencing on the day he turns 18.