The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has imposed financial penalties totalling AU$2.25 million (US$1.61 million) on Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney. The regulatory action follows an extensive probe revealing that a 16-year-old minor repeatedly accessed the gaming floors of both major venues using fraudulent identity documents between April and August 2025.
According to the regulatory findings, the teenager entered Crown Sydney on 19 separate occasions, successfully achieving silver membership status and being served complimentary alcoholic beverages. The same individual also illegally entered The Star Sydney three times during the same timeframe. Investigations conducted by Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) confirmed that both licensed operators failed to detect the counterfeit driver’s licence used by the minor to bypass checkpoint security controls.
Crown Sydney was ordered to pay a penalty of AU$1.75 million, which accounts for additional infractions involving the unlawful service of complimentary alcohol to a minor. The Star Sydney received a fine of AU$500,000. NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford described the breaches as significant operational failures, reiterating that maintaining strict identity verification standards is essential for protecting minors and preventing fraud across all licensed venues in New South Wales.
For land-based and online gaming operators, this enforcement measure highlights the critical necessity of robust automated identity verification and continuous staff compliance training. In addition to the monetary penalties, L&GNSW has issued a five-year casino exclusion order against the minor, taking effect on the individual’s 18th birthday.
Source: iGaming Business