Star Sydney may regain its casino licence by the end of September under conditional terms and regulatory supervision. NSW Independent Casino Commission chair Philip Crawford told a state parliamentary hearing on 26 August that the regulator is preparing to return control to The Star rather than extend the tenure of government-appointed manager Nick Weeks, whose term expires in September.
The licence has been suspended since October 2022 following the Bell inquiry, which found the operator unsuitable to hold a gaming licence. Under the proposed arrangement, The Star will receive a conditional licence tied to new NICC requirements. Weeks is expected to remain as a monitor but will no longer manage the casino directly. The Star covers the cost of the current management structure.
NICC will continue oversight and conduct a fresh suitability review under section 31 of the Casino Control Act within twelve to eighteen months. Crawford said the operator's new management and ownership are cooperating with the commission, though financial issues remain unresolved.
A separate factor is the pending Federal Court ruling on AUSTRAC's claim for a $400 million penalty against The Star. The verdict is expected around the end of September.
