Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney Face $2.25 Million Penalties After Minor Gains Repeated Access
The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission imposed combined fines of $2.25 million on Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney after an investigation confirmed that a 16-year-old had entered both venues repeatedly throughout 2025 using a fraudulent driver's licence, and the breaches prompted immediate regulatory action from Liquor and Gaming NSW. Crown Sydney received the larger penalty of $1.75 million while The Star Sydney was fined $500,000, reflecting differences in the number of documented entries and the scope of compliance failures uncovered during the review. The minor visited Crown Sydney on 19 separate occasions and obtained silver membership status, which included access to complimentary alcohol services, whereas the same individual entered The Star Sydney three times before authorities intervened. Observers note that these repeated entries exposed gaps in identity verification procedures at both properties, and the commission's findings centered on how staff handled document checks at entry points.
Investigation Triggers and Regulatory Response
Liquor and Gaming NSW launched the probe after receiving information about the underage access, and the agency coordinated with the NSW Independent Casino Commission to verify records across both casinos. The commission determined that neither operator had maintained adequate controls to detect the fraudulent licence, which allowed the minor to bypass standard age verification multiple times over several months. Those who've studied similar cases know that such patterns often trace back to inconsistent staff training and outdated scanning equipment, yet the official report focused strictly on the documented lapses at these two venues. The minor received a five-year ban from both casinos effective upon turning 18, and regulators confirmed that the exclusion order remains active as part of the final resolution. Data from the investigation showed that Crown Sydney's membership program processed the individual's application without sufficient cross-checks against official databases, while The Star Sydney's entry logs revealed shorter but still non-compliant visits.
Operator Acknowledgment and Planned Improvements
Both Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney acknowledged the failures in identity verification systems during the commission's proceedings, and each operator outlined remediation steps that include upgraded document scanning technology, revised onboarding protocols for new members, and mandatory staff retraining on fraud detection. The NSW Independent Casino Commission accepted these commitments as part of the penalty agreement, and the operators must report progress on the enhancements within specified timelines.
The penalties stand as the direct outcome of the 2025 incidents rather than broader operational reviews, and the commission emphasized that the fines address only the specific compliance breaches tied to the minor's entries. Those familiar with the regulatory framework point out that the NSW Independent Casino Commission holds authority to adjust future oversight measures based on how effectively the operators implement the promised changes.
Details of the Compliance Failures
Records examined during the investigation indicated that the fraudulent licence passed initial visual inspections at Crown Sydney on multiple occasions, which granted the minor silver membership benefits including free drinks on several visits. At The Star Sydney the same document allowed three entries before detection occurred through separate channels. The commission's order required both venues to strengthen real-time verification processes that cross-reference licence details against government records, and the operators have begun rolling out the updated systems. The ball is now in the operators' court to demonstrate measurable improvements, and the NSW Independent Casino Commission will monitor implementation through scheduled audits. Figures from the probe revealed that 22 total entries occurred across the two properties before the matter reached regulatory attention, and this total formed the basis for the differentiated fine amounts.
Conclusion
The $2.25 million penalties issued to Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney close the immediate chapter on the 2025 underage access case, while the five-year exclusion order and required system upgrades continue to shape compliance expectations at both venues. The NSW Independent Casino Commission maintains ongoing oversight to ensure the remediation measures prevent similar incidents, and the operators' progress reports will determine whether further adjustments to procedures become necessary.