Sydney Casinos Penalized Following Repeated Underage Entries at Crown and Star Venues

Authorities imposed fines totaling $2.25 million on two major Sydney casino operators after a 16-year-old gained repeated access to both properties throughout 2025, and the penalties reflect specific failures in identity checks that allowed the minor to obtain membership and receive complimentary alcohol at one location.

Crown Sydney received the larger penalty of $1.75 million while The Star Sydney faced a $500,000 fine, with both amounts determined by the NSW Independent Casino Commission following an investigation that uncovered 19 entries at Crown and three at Star using a fraudulent driver’s licence.

Sequence of Events at the Venues

The minor presented the fake identification on multiple occasions, completed membership processes at each site, and accessed Crown facilities where complimentary alcohol was provided during several visits, while the three Star entries occurred without the same level of additional services documented.

These repeated breaches occurred across separate dates in 2025, and records show the individual navigated entry points without detection despite the age restriction in place at both casinos.

Investigation and Referral Process

Liquor and Gaming NSW conducted the initial probe into the incidents, gathered evidence on the verification lapses, and referred the matter to the NICC for regulatory action, while the commission reviewed the documented entries along with the operators’ internal procedures.

Investigators confirmed the fraudulent licence had been used consistently, and the probe established that standard identity protocols had not prevented the underage access across the total of 22 documented visits.

Operator Responses and Remediation Commitments

Both Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney acknowledged shortcomings in their identity verification systems, and each outlined plans to strengthen checks including updated technology and staff training measures designed to close similar gaps in future operations.

The acknowledgments formed part of the formal response to the NICC, and the operators indicated they would implement the changes promptly following the commission’s findings.

Regulatory Framework Applied

The NICC applied penalties under existing casino control legislation that addresses access by minors, and the fines represent the direct outcome of the referral from Liquor and Gaming NSW without additional sanctions detailed in the current matter.

According to the commission’s news release, the case centered solely on these documented incidents and the operators’ admitted failures in verification processes.

Compliance Adjustments Following the Decision

Following the penalties, both venues initiated reviews of membership enrollment procedures and entry scanning equipment, and these steps aim to ensure that future attempts using altered identification documents trigger immediate alerts.

Staff at the properties received updated guidance on handling suspicious documents, while system upgrades were scheduled to integrate more rigorous cross-checks against official records.

Conclusion

The fines close this particular investigation into the 2025 entries, and the operators’ commitments to remediation now form the basis for ongoing compliance monitoring by the NICC and Liquor and Gaming NSW in subsequent periods.