The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (The NICC) has issued a show cause notice to The Star, seeking its response as to why it should not take disciplinary action in respect of breaches substantiated in the second Bell Report.
The notice relates to four significant breaches detailed in the second Bell Report, including one that resulted in a cash fraud against The Star, a failure to run source of wealth checks on hundreds of members flagged as high risk, and fraudulent guest welfare entries that put already vulnerable customers at higher risk of harm.
The NICC has also issued correspondence to The Star in relation to its management, operation and culture, the adequacy and implementation of its remediation plan, and The Star’s overall suitability to hold a casino licence.
The Star has 14 days to respond to the show cause notice and related correspondence. The NICC will then consider what course of action it will take, including whether disciplinary action is appropriate.
Disciplinary options available to the NICC include:
- Cancellation of the licence.
- A pecuniary penalty of up to $100 million.
- Amendment of the terms or conditions of the licence.
- A requirement that a casino operator, or a close associate of a casino operator, give an undertaking (an enforceable undertaking) to do or refrain from doing something.
- A letter of censure to the casino operator.
The NICC continues to consider its response to the Bell Report including The Star’s ability to obtain financial resources to ensure the financial viability of the casino.