The New South Wales regulator NICC fined Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney a combined AU$2.25 million ($1.61 million) for repeatedly admitting a 16-year-old to their gaming floors. The teenager used false documents to enter Crown Sydney 19 times and The Star Sydney three times between April and August 2025.
Crown Sydney received a AU$1.75 million penalty, while The Star Sydney was fined AU$500,000. At Crown Sydney the minor was given silver loyalty status and free alcohol. Neither casino caught the fake driver's licence during identity checks. Liquor & Gaming NSW investigated and referred the case to the NICC.
NICC chief Philip Crawford called the matter a 'serious failure' and said Crown Sydney committed additional breaches, including illegally serving alcohol to a minor. Dimitri Argeres, L&GNSW director of regulatory operations, cited a 'breakdown of safeguards' that put a vulnerable teenager at risk. Under the Casino Control Act 1992, the NICC can levy fines of up to AU$100 million for serious breaches.
The teenager is barred from both casinos for five years from reaching the age of majority. For The Star Sydney, the fine adds to existing regulatory pressure: the NICC had suspended its licence over unsuitability and recently extended the suspension after remediation efforts failed.
