Regulatory Penalties Imposed on Sydney Casinos for Underage Access Breach

The NSW Independent Casino Commission issued fines totaling $2.25 million against Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney after both venues permitted a 16-year-old to enter their premises repeatedly during 2025, and the penalties broke down to $1.75 million for Crown alongside $500,000 for The Star following an investigation led by Liquor and Gaming NSW.

Investigators established that the minor used a fraudulent driver’s licence to gain access on 19 occasions at Crown Sydney where the individual obtained silver membership status and received complimentary alcohol on multiple visits, while The Star Sydney recorded three separate entries by the same person during the same period.

Investigation Details and Findings

Liquor and Gaming NSW conducted the probe that uncovered these repeated breaches, and the regulatory body documented how the casinos failed to verify identities properly despite existing protocols designed to prevent underage entry, yet both operators later acknowledged shortcomings in their verification processes during the review.

The evidence showed that the minor returned consistently over several months, and each successful entry highlighted gaps in staff training and system checks that allowed the fraudulent document to pass scrutiny on every occasion at Crown while similar lapses occurred at The Star though on fewer visits.

Consequences for the Minor and Ongoing Restrictions

Following the conclusion of the investigation the minor received a five-year ban from both casinos that takes effect upon turning 18, and this prohibition applies to all gaming and hospitality areas within Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney as part of the regulatory determination.

Authorities noted that the ban serves as a direct measure to prevent further access, while the fines themselves underscore the commission’s focus on holding operators accountable for maintaining robust entry controls at all times.

Regulatory Context and Enforcement Actions

The NSW Independent Casino Commission oversees compliance for casino operations in the state, and it issued the penalties after reviewing the full investigation report prepared by Liquor and Gaming NSW, which detailed the timeline of entries and the nature of the identity verification failures at each venue.

According to the press release from the commission, the combined fine reflects the seriousness of allowing repeated access by an underage individual, and the case stands as a clear example of how regulators apply financial penalties when verification systems fall short of required standards.

Broader Implications for Casino Operations

Casino operators across New South Wales now face heightened expectations around identity checks, and the outcomes in this matter demonstrate that regulators will pursue substantial penalties when minors gain entry through fraudulent means regardless of how many visits occurred at each location.

Both Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney have begun rolling out the agreed improvements to their entry protocols, and ongoing monitoring by Liquor and Gaming NSW will assess whether these changes reduce the risk of similar incidents in coming months.

Conclusion

The fines and remediation commitments mark a significant enforcement action by the NSW Independent Casino Commission, and they highlight the critical role of accurate identity verification in maintaining compliance at licensed casino venues throughout the state.