The head of the NSW Independent Casino Commission has indicated that The Star Sydney could get its casino license back as early as this month, albeit on a conditional basis.
According to a report by mainstream media outlet The Australian, NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford fronted a late-night parliamentary committee meeting last week where he told members he was satisfied with the efforts of Star’s new-look management team under the ownership of Bally’s Corp and Investment Holdings Pty Ltd, and with the improved relationship between the operator and the regulatory body.
“The good news is that the people now running and owning this casino are listening to us,” Crawford said, according to The Australian’s report.
“They’re working very closely and well with the manager. They’re trying to get things done. They’ve taken steps to right-size their business.”
The report also reveals that Star applied to have its NSW casino license reinstated in August, having earlier this year opted not to do so in order to provide more time to improve its internal compliance systems.”
The comments from Crawford reflect a significant change of tune given his fractured relationship with previous management teams, which saw him call two separate inquiries into Star’s suitability. After the first inquiry in 2021 resulted in the departure of long-time CEO Matt Bekier and his executive team, the second inquiry uncovered a stunning plan by the replacement team to overthrow the regulator and a similar breakdown in their relationship with Nick Weeks, the man who has since 2022 served as Special Manager of Star’s casino resorts.
Notably, Crawford’s testimony to parliament last week revealed that Weeks is “highly likely” to remain onboard at Star to continue overseeing its transformation process in a reduced capacity.
“He’ll be a monitor, but he won’t be the manager,” Crawford is reported to have told members. “The license will revert back to the company,”
The commissioner added that there are “a few kinks and bumps to happen in the next five or six weeks” but that he was looking to reinstate the license – apparently before his recently announced retirement in November.
Star this week reported a AU$307.3 million (US$220 million) statutory net loss for the year ended 30 June 2026, although it also cited improved trading conditions in recent months. The Australian also cited chairman Soo Kim as stating Star is now cash flow positive for the first time in many years.
Kim’s Bally’s Corp and Bruce Mathieson’s Investment Holdings Pty Ltd assumed a combined 61% stake in Star last November.
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