After more than three years of uncertainty, the NSW Independent Casino Commission has found Crown Sydney suitable to retain its casino licence.

The decision follows the recent announcement by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) that Crown Melbourne was also found suitable to retain its casino licence.

Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford said Crown has come a long way and must now demonstrate its long-term commitment to maintaining suitability.

“The NICC is confident the Crown we deemed suitable today has a strong model to keep operating into the future,” Crawford said.

The NICC’s suitability assessment established that Crown Sydney has fundamentally reformed its business and is operating the casino within the objects of the Act, the requirements of the suitability deed, and in compliance with its regulatory obligations.

In addition to proving it can run the casino lawfully, Crown has remediated its business in other meaningful ways such as building a culture of transparency and accountability across its integrated resort. 

“Hard work and transformation aside, the NICC has not forgotten the level of misconduct exposed in 2021 when Crown was found unsuitable,” said Crawford.

“Crown Sydney has ongoing work to reach steady state and it must continue to lift standards and maintain its cultural transformation.

“There is and will always be room for improvement, but Crown is a changed business that is looking toward the future.

“Likewise, the NICC is a changed regulator with enhanced powers, a singular focus on casinos, and a mandate to address the risks of harm.

“This decision is a positive outcome for Crown Sydney, its staff, and the community – who can be sure the NICC will use all of its powers to keep the casino in check.” 

In addition to the implementation of hundreds of new internal controls, the Bergin-based reforms have been reflected in a new licence and new regulatory agreement between Crown Sydney, the NSW Government and the NICC.

These agreements include updated settings, such as the removal of fetters to the NICC’s powers, as well as previous compensation trigger clauses that are no longer part of the casino legislation.

“Crown cannot disregard the responsibility and privilege that comes with holding a casino licence. Crown Sydney’s ability to provide a destination hospitality and entertainment venue underpinned by the restricted gaming facility is contingent on its steadfast commitment to continuing suitability, accountability and compliance.”

“The NICC would like to give special thanks to Liquor & Gaming NSW and Kroll Australia for their efforts to help the NICC reach this stage.”

Read the NICC’s suitability decision (PDF, 298.34 KB).

Crown’s response to ruling

Crown said it had invested $200 million in a comprehensive transformation of its business, implementing extensive reforms across harm minimisation, financial crime, governance, compliance, and risk.

This work has been implemented under new ownership and executive leadership, following the acquisition of Crown by Blackstone in June 2022, as well as the implementation of new Boards, including Crown Sydney’s Board under the Chairmanship of John Borghetti.  

Crown Sydney said it has introduced rigorous standards to deter and detect money laundering as part of its ongoing focus on financial crime prevention. As part of this, Crown Sydney was the first in NSW to introduce cashless gaming on all Electronic Table Games (ETGs). This, coupled with Crown’s innovative and industry-leading harm minimisation program, Crown PlaySafe, has transformed Crown Sydney into the safest place to gamble in the state. 

Crown Sydney CEO Mark McWhinnie said: “Since opening the Crown Sydney casino in August 2022, we have worked tirelessly to implement wholesale reform across our business, delivering 432 remediation activities to the NICC across key areas, including harm minimisation, financial crime, compliance, risk, and culture. 

“The NICC’s decision today recognises the genuine and sustainable changes we’ve made and our ongoing commitment to operating at the highest industry standards. I would like to thank the NICC, led by Chief Commissioner, Philip Crawford, for his continued leadership, professional engagement and commitment to regulatory reform.  

“Crown Sydney is the safest place to gamble in the state.”

Star concedes it’s unfit to operate Sydney casino

 On the same day that Crown was given the green line to operate unrestricted, its rival The Star conceded it is not suitable to operate a casino in Sydney.

Star Entertainment executive chairman David Foster told an inquiry: “I certainly have a clear and realistic view that there is not a scenario – and I don’t think there ever was, realistically – of the company at this stage achieving suitability without some form of supervision.”

Adam Bell SC is running an inquiry at the request of the Independent Casino Commission to assess whether Star had done enough to win back its Sydney licence.

Bell’s first report in 2022 found Star was unsuitable to hold its licence, describing its operations as “a case study of unethical conduct and cultural failure” that may have evaded taxes and facilitated $900 million of banned gambling transactions.

If Star is found unsuitable at the end of Bell’s second inquiry, its licence could be permanently revoked, resulting in the casino being shut down.

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