Delivery report
The NICC's delivery report provides a snapshot of work delivered against its strategic plan.
The regulatory pathway
The NSW casino industry is being rebuilt from the ground up. The NICC’s long term vision is for
NSW casinos to achieve suitability and to eventually reach a sustainable state characterised by
safe, responsible, and compliant operations, resistant to criminal infiltration and equipped to
minimise gambling harm.
The below regulatory pathway expresses the journey towards sustainability. It does not
presume a finding of suitability for either of NSW’s two casinos or pre-empt a decision of the
NICC. It is possible for a casino to move backwards along the pathway at any stage.
Focus area delivery
The NICC’s strategic plan established four focus areas. These focus areas represent the
NICC's priorities for 2023-24 and provide a framework for activities that meet its regulatory
objectives. The delivery report highlights the NICC’s deliverables against its strategic plan
over the past six months between August 2023 to January 2024.
|
Open and |
Clear and |
Appropriate |
Implement the |
Projects and ongoing work include:
- Development and publication of key governance documents including the
inaugural NICC annual report, NICC-specific policies, and implementation of the
stakeholder engagement framework and program. - Independent NICC branding and launch of the NICC website, consolidating the
NICC as a standalone, separate public service agency. - Development of the NICC Training and Development Program and Policy and
launch of the NICC Mentoring Program. - Adjustments to the NICC’s regulatory capacity and organisational design
through the employment of an assistant project officer and the activity
mapping and extension of NSW Police Force data analysts. - Communications sent to The Star clarifying the actions required by the casino
for implementation of the Bell Report recommendations and ongoing
monitoring under The Star Manager.
Establish and maintain the NICC’s independence and demonstrate accountability and transparency in interactions with casinos, stakeholders and the public.
“The work to establish the NICC was impressive, both in the speed at which the
agency came together and the presence it has achieved in public and regulatory
domains. The NICC has materialised as an efficient, connected and independent
entity, enacting significant change in its first year of operation.”
Philip Crawford, Chief Commissioner
|
Establish |
Facilitate breach |
Expand oversight |
Standardise |
Projects and ongoing work include:
- Collaboration with Liquor & Gaming NSW and implementation of a new process
for casino special employee disciplinary matters. - Bergin recommendations implemented and reflected in the Crown Sydney
suitability assessment framework. - Updated internal control manuals developed for The Star based on the
recommendations of the Bergin Inquiry and Bell Report. - Framework, scope and audit schedule established for both casinos as now
required annually under the casino control laws. - Casino operator reporting requirements mapped and collated to prepare for
development of a breach reporting portal. - Implementation of a new casino operator disciplinary complaints process and a
breach reporting guide.
Establish and maintain regulatory controls to ensure compliance with the Act,
prevent money laundering and criminal activity and minimise gambling harms.
“Intensive groundwork has been needed to rebuild casino regulation to the extent
recommended by the inquiries. We have tightened regulatory controls and enhanced
our supervisory tools to make it harder and less attractive for criminals to exploit the
industry and for casinos to take on risky customers or ignore potential harms.”
Philip Crawford, Chief Commissioner
| Establish compliance thresholds |
Build resistance | Mitigate harms | Enhance due diligence |
Projects and ongoing work include:
- Appointment of supervisory agents at both casinos including The Star Manager,
independent monitor Kroll Australia, compliance auditor Protiviti, and
operational compliance and enforcement through Liquor & Gaming NSW. - Frequent engagement with The Star Manager to obtain visibility of remediation
progress and capability, and oversight of day to day operational activity. - Initiation of a full review into Crown Sydney’s compliance with its internal
control manuals, as part of the process to begin Crown’s suitability assessment. - Completion of comprehensive probity assessments of 23 applications for
casino close associate status, including complex applications involving
international inquiry into individuals and their affiliations.
Supervise NSW’s casinos and strengthen their capability to meet regulatory and
community expectations.
“Our regulatory partners and stakeholders are essential to the casino supervisory
effort. The NICC’s capabilities are supported and extended through external
expertise which enables complex supervision of large commercial entities that
intersect both the financial and hospitality industries.”
Philip Crawford, Chief Commissioner
| Invest in relationships |
Prepare for future phases |
Establish the Gambling Harm Advisory Committee |
Obtain better data |
Projects and ongoing work include:
- Preparation for Liquor & Gaming NSW to adopt independent monitor functions
and expertise to continue casino monitoring requirements into the future. - Launch of the Gambling Harm Minimisation Advisory Committee, including
appointing members, establishing governance procedures and committee
objectives, and developing member's insights into responsible conduct of
gambling in a casino setting. - Establishment of the inaugural Australian Council of Gaming Regulators -
Casino Stream which will provide opportunities for national casino regulators to
share best practice. - Established an ongoing series of meetings with relevant state and
Commonwealth agencies to coordinate responses to intersecting casino issues.
Undertook specialist and technical training to equip NICC and ONICC members
to be engaged in casino regulation and to develop an awareness of emerging
risks in the global landscape. - Set up direct points of contact and engagement with AUSTRAC and NSW
Police.
Identify and respond to emerging risks in modern casino operating environments
and intersecting industries.
“Despite the many tasks at hand during the NICC’s first year, we are looking ahead to
ensure our strategic objectives are being met. The regulatory pathway provides a
guide to reach steady state, but planning for new challenges on the horizon is vital to
support modern casino regulation.”
Philip Crawford, Chief Commissioner
More information
Disciplinary outcomes register