Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney Hit with AU$2.25 Million Penalty After Underage Entry Breach

NSW regulators imposed a combined fine of AU$2.25 million on Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney after a 16-year-old gained repeated access to both properties during 2025 using a fraudulent driver’s licence. The NSW Independent Casino Commission determined that the minor obtained silver membership status at Crown Sydney and entered the venue 19 times while also receiving complimentary alcohol on multiple occasions. The same individual entered The Star Sydney three times before authorities identified the lapses through an investigation conducted by Liquor and Gaming NSW.

Both operators confirmed shortfalls in their identity verification procedures during the review period. Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney each issued statements acknowledging the breakdowns in their entry controls and outlined steps they have taken to strengthen those systems going forward. The minor received a five-year exclusion order from both casinos effective upon turning 18.

Details of the Access Violations

The investigation traced the 16-year-old’s movements across the two venues throughout 2025 and documented how the fraudulent licence bypassed standard checks at each location. At Crown Sydney the individual completed the silver membership application process and subsequently used that status to gain entry on 19 separate occasions. Records showed that staff provided complimentary alcohol during several of those visits. At The Star Sydney the same person passed through entry points three times without triggering additional verification steps.

Officials from Liquor and Gaming NSW compiled the timeline after receiving information that prompted the formal inquiry. The resulting report presented to teh NSW Independent Casino Commission detailed the sequence of entries and the absence of effective age or identity safeguards at the points of access. Both properties operated under existing licence conditions that require robust verification of all patrons entering gaming areas.

Regulatory Findings and Operator Responses

The NSW Independent Casino Commission reviewed the evidence collected by Liquor and Gaming NSW and determined that each venue had failed to maintain adequate controls. Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney accepted the findings and committed to immediate remediation measures. Those measures include upgraded identity verification technology at all entry points and expanded staff training programs focused on detecting fraudulent documents.

Representatives from both operators submitted remediation plans to the commission outlining timelines for implementing the new checks. The plans also require ongoing audits of entry procedures to ensure continued compliance with state gaming regulations. The commission accepted the proposed actions as part of the final determination that included the AU$2.25 million penalty split between the two properties.

Exclusion Order and Future Compliance Requirements

Following the investigation the minor was placed under a five-year ban from Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney that begins on the individual’s 18th birthday. The order prevents any return visits during that period and requires the venues to maintain records that flag the person’s details at all future entry attempts. Both properties must report any attempted breaches of the exclusion to the commission.

Additional compliance obligations now apply to both operators as part of the penalty resolution. These obligations mandate regular reporting on the effectiveness of the new verification systems and staff training initiatives. The commission retains authority to conduct follow-up inspections to confirm that the upgraded procedures remain in active use.

Conclusion

The AU$2.25 million penalty marks the conclusion of the formal regulatory process that began when Liquor and Gaming NSW uncovered the repeated entries. Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney have implemented the required changes to their identity verification processes and staff training protocols. The five-year exclusion order remains in effect, and both venues continue to operate under the enhanced compliance framework established by the NSW Independent Casino Commission. Casinos fined for allowing minor to enter their venues (press release)