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The Star Sydney will remain under external management until June 30, 2027, as New South Wales regulators continue assessing whether the casino can safely regain control of its own licence.
Nick Weeks will stay in place as manager for another nine months, allowing gaming operations to continue while the casino licence remains suspended. The NSW Independent Casino Commission said governance, leadership and corporate culture still require more work.
Good to Know
- The Star Sydney licence has remained suspended since October 2022.
- Nick Weeks can continue operating the casino under external management until June 30, 2027.
- NICC says the suspension can end earlier if The Star proves its remediation work is embedded and sustainable.
Leadership And Culture Remain Main Obstacles
The latest extension is less about whether The Star has made progress and more about whether regulators believe that progress can hold without outside supervision.
NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford said:
“There is no doubt that The Star has come a long way in addressing the matters which led to the suspension of its casino licence in 2022.”
However, NICC still wants clearer evidence around governance, senior leadership and company culture before returning full control to The Star. The regulator has also pointed to unresolved leadership questions and wider group issues affecting multiple properties.
Crawford added:
“Ultimately it is The Star’s responsibility to demonstrate that it believes in its remediation efforts and that they can do the work to ensure its remediation sticks long-term.”
The Star remediation programme covers compliance, risk management, responsible gambling, anti money laundering controls and governance. NICC has been monitoring those areas while keeping Weeks in control of the Sydney licence.
Four Years Of External Oversight
The Star lost control of its Sydney casino licence after the 2022 Bell Review found serious failures across governance, risk and compliance.
NICC suspended the licence in October 2022, imposed a AU$100 million fine and appointed Weeks as manager. What started as a 90 day appointment has since been extended several times.
A second Bell inquiry in 2024 kept pressure on the operator and led to further requirements around board independence, governance and key personnel.
NICC extended Weeks again in April 2026, saying the new leadership team still needed to prove that the business could operate sustainably and remedy concerns raised in both Bell inquiries.
The regulator has made clear that June 30, 2027 is not necessarily a fixed end date. The licence suspension can be lifted sooner if The Star demonstrates that reforms are properly embedded.
Crawford said:
“These are all issues which need to be resolved before the NICC can lift The Star’s licence suspension, which can occur at any time if the casino can demonstrate that its remediation efforts have been properly embedded in the business.”
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