(AsiaGameHub) –   The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has once more extended the license suspension for The Star Entertainment Group’s Sydney-based casino.

On March 12, the NICC received a pathway-to-suitability submission from The Star Sydney, where the operator restated its January communication indicating it would not pursue a license determination during this month.

The Star Sydney has been under suspension for more than three years, as the operator was deemed no longer fit to hold a casino license following two NICC-ordered reviews by Adam Bell SC (in October 2022 and August 2024) that uncovered multiple regulatory breaches.

In deciding on the initial suspension, the NICC considered the potential for the casino to meet the commission’s requirements through proper corrective measures, so it did not revoke the property’s license entirely. Nicolas Weeks was named manager of The Star Sydney to enable gaming activities to keep running at the venue.

This latest extension ensures the casino’s license suspension stays in effect, and Weeks’ role has been prolonged until September 30, 2026—unless the appointment is ended before that time.

In a regulatory update to its investors, The Star mentioned that the suspension extension pertains to ‘the current term of the appointments of the Special Manager to The Star Gold Coast and the External Advisor for The Star Brisbane’.

NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford has commended The Star’s new leadership team, saying: “The new owners are implementing major changes to the way the business operates, and these are being closely monitored by the NICC.

“This includes efforts to enhance the business’s long-term financial sustainability, which will help them prove their suitability. We will keep collaborating with The Star on their key remediation tasks so the casino can address the critical issues highlighted in the two Bell investigations.”

WhiteHawk swoops in

Earlier this week, The Star advanced its debt refinancing process with WhiteHawk Capital Partners by submitting its commitment letter on schedule, progressing toward refinancing its current debt “in full and securing incremental liquidity to maintain enough cash flow for day-to-day operations”.

To prevent default, The Star must finalize the refinancing by May 15, 2026. However, the operator has had a tentative agreement with WhiteHawk since February and has been evaluating its resource structure and strategic direction.

This agreement comes after The Star released its H1 FY26 results earlier this month, where it expressed positivity despite a turbulent end to 2025—ending with normalized net revenue of A$585 million (compared to A$650 million in H1 FY25) and a substantial net loss of over A$75 million.
This was also the first reporting period under the new management team, which followed the completion of a A$300 million strategic investment by Bally’s Corporation and Investment Holdings late last year.