Star Sydney Casino Manager’s Term Extended Due to Suitability Issues

The term of the Manager overseeing The Star Sydney casino will be extended by at least six months amid speculation that a report delivered to the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) this week will again find the company unsuitable.

In a filing, Star stated it has been informed by the NICC that the Minister has approved extending Nicholas Weeks’ appointment as Manager of the Sydney casino until March 31, 2025, unless terminated earlier by the regulator. Weeks’ term was initially set to end on September 30, 2024.

This news follows local media reports suggesting the Bell report from the recent inquiry, handed to the NICC on Wednesday, recommends Star should not be deemed suitable to hold a casino license until it demonstrates substantial changes. The report also suggests Star may need up to five years to regain suitability.

Earlier on Thursday, before Weeks’ term was extended, Star responded to media speculation, stating that the report’s contents had “not yet been publicly released, and The Star has not received a copy of the report or been advised of its contents.”

That Star could be found unsuitable for the second time in two years is not surprising, given revelations from the recent Bell inquiry. The fallout included CEO Robbie Cooke and Chairman David Foster stepping down after it was revealed that they had plotted to remove Weeks while lobbying to replace the regulator entirely.

The inquiry also uncovered that Star had falsified records regarding welfare checks on customers gambling for more than three hours at a time, as required under current regulations.

Since the inquiry, Star has taken significant steps to address its internal issues, notably appointing Steve McCann, who helped Crown Resorts return to suitability in Sydney and Melbourne, as its new CEO and Managing Director.

Although suggestions of Star’s continued unsuitability are unsurprising, the media reports may offer some comfort amid concerns that Star’s license could be revoked altogether due to its failure to remediate following the first inquiry in 2022.

Read: NSW Regulator Receives Final Report on The Star Sydney Inquiry

Source: IAG