Crown given green light for Sydney casino following three years of doubt

Following a three-year evaluation period, the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has given Crown Sydney the green light to continue operating its Sydney casino under a new license and regulatory agreement. 

The news follows on from a recent similar decision made by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission determining that Crown Melbourne should be allowed to retain its casino licence.

“The NICC is confident the Crown we deemed suitable today has a strong model to keep operating into the future,” said Chief Commissioner of the NICC, Philip Crawford.

“This decision is a positive outcome for Crown Sydney, its staff, and the community – who can be sure the NICC will use all of its powers to keep the casino in check.” 

The operations and ethical conduct of Crown Sydney have been under NICC scrutiny since the Bergin inquiry was published in February 2021, revealing incidents of money laundering and links to international criminal syndicates. As a direct result of the inquiry, Crown Sydney Gaming Pty was deemed unfit to possess a restricted gaming licence at the $2.2 billion Barangaroo facility. Furthermore, Crown Resorts Ltd was deemed not suitable to be a close associate of the licence. 

Yesterday, the NICC gave Crown Sydney the green light to maintain its casino licence, stating it is confident that Crown Sydney has sufficiently reformed its business and is now operating in a transparent, accountable and lawful manner.

“Hard work and transformation aside, the NICC has not forgotten the level of misconduct exposed in 2021 when Crown was found unsuitable,” said Crawford.

“Crown Sydney has ongoing work to reach steady state and it must continue to lift standards and maintain its cultural transformation.”

The full Crown Sydney Suitability Assessment Decision stipulates the creation of an amended licence and the creation of a new regulatory agreement between Crown Sydney, the NSW Government and the NICC. 

“The NICC has observed that Crown Sydney has been proactive in implementing the remediation plan during the conditional gaming period,” stated the NICC report. 

“Following the Bergin Inquiry and consultation phase between the NICC and Crown Sydney, it was agreed the historical regulatory agreements would be reviewed.” 

The new regulatory agreements will include updated settings, such as the removal of fetters to the NICC’s powers, along with previous compensation trigger clauses that no longer form part of the casino legislation. 

“Crown cannot disregard the responsibility and privilege that comes with holding a casino licence,” said Crawford. 

“Crown Sydney’s ability to provide a destination hospitality and entertainment venue underpinned by the restricted gaming facility is contingent on its steadfast commitment to continuing suitability, accountability and compliance.”

The decision was announced to the public yesterday in the NICC's report. The final conclusion reached by the independent commission confirms that “Crown Sydney is suitable to give effect to its restricted gaming licence and that Crown Resorts is suitable to be a close associate of Crown Sydney.”