Queensland extends Star Gold Coast licence suspension to March 2027

The Queensland government has extended the suspension deadline for The Star Gold Coast's casino licence to 31 March 2027, giving the operator a further six months to finish outstanding remediation work while it continues to trade under close regulatory watch.

The decision, confirmed last week, followed advice from Special Manager Nicholas Weeks, who found that the casino group had made meaningful progress on its reform programme but still had several priority issues to resolve, according to iGaming Business.

Weeks' own appointment has also been extended, keeping independent oversight of The Star Gold Coast in place alongside continued external supervision of The Star Brisbane over the same period.

Queensland's attorney general, Deb Frecklington, said the government had "continued to set clear expectations for The Star to ensure the utmost integrity of Queensland's casino operations," adding that "Queenslanders can have full confidence that we will take immediate action if The Star fails to deliver on its obligations."

Frecklington said the extension did not signal any softening of regulatory standards. "Those expectations remain unchanged and, while I acknowledge the work of The Star to date, this extension will allow The Star to further demonstrate its delivery on key remediation commitments under the agreement," she said.

She also credited Weeks' oversight, thanking him "for his comprehensive report and continued independent oversight of The Star's progress towards fulfilling its remediation plan."

This is the second deferral of The Star Gold Coast's suspension deadline. It was originally pushed from March 2025 to September 2026 after earlier delays, part of a process that began when The Star was first investigated in Queensland in 2022 and later ruled unsuitable for a licence that October. Regulators at the time imposed fines, ordered a 90-day suspension and appointed Weeks to oversee reform, also citing one of his reports as the basis for delay.

The Star's Sydney casino, run by the same parent group, has fared worse. The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission has extended its suspension to 30 June 2027, citing continuing concerns over governance, leadership and corporate culture at the parent company.

NICC chief commissioner Philip Crawford acknowledged progress at the Sydney venue but said the wider Star Entertainment Group was still responsible for problems affecting all of its properties. The scrutiny follows a Federal Court finding that two former senior Star Entertainment Group executives breached the Corporations Act 2001 over failures in managing and reporting money-laundering and criminal-activity risks.

"It is disappointing that despite the progress made by the Sydney casino, the group company continues to experience problems that affect each of its properties," Crawford said. "The NICC will be watching carefully to see how The Star and The Star Entertainment Group resolve these issues. Both companies need to demonstrate to the NICC that they have learned from past mistakes and can resolve these cultural issues without the need for the NICC's intervention."