4000 Sydney jobs at risk as casino regulator mulls over The Star’s future

The business community has thrown its weight behind 4000 workers at risk of losing their jobs if the casino regulator wields the axe on Star Casino.

The jobs of more than 4000 people are at risk in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis as the casinos regulator considers the future of one of Sydney’s major gaming operators.

A second inquiry into whether The Star casino was fit to hold a NSW licence has found the company “had not moved quickly enough to address the governance and cultural concern” raised in the first inquiry.

Despite the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) acknowledging the company had changed its executive team and had greater transparency, the watchdog is still considering the next steps for The Star’s future.

Sources close to the situation say the NSW government has been hesitant to intervene and support the casino’s future, despite the thousands of jobs being at risk.

The company entered a trading halt just before 10am on Friday but the business community has called on the Minns government to try to salvage the business that they say is central to the city’s tourism and night-life economy.

The Star Casino halted trading on Friday. Picture: Bloomberg

While the government cannot intervene in the independent decision of NICC Commissioner Philip Crawford, it’s understood it can support the casino’s future in other ways, including more flexible payment options for any fees enforced by the NICC.

In the 2024 financial year, The Star added $2.4bn to the economy, including paying $730m in wages to its more than 8000 staff nationwide, of which more than half are based in Sydney.

Former Venues NSW and WestConnex boss Tony Shepherd called on the state government to “find a way through” to save thousands of jobs in a slowing economy.

“In a country at the moment where the economy is not in very good shape, unemployment is rising and given the government’s commitment to fostering entertainment and hospitality in the Sydney region it is worthwhile to find a way through,” he said.

“I don’t say for a minute that we should turn a blind eye to illegal behaviour, it has to be as clean as a whistle, but I would be recommending to the government to find a way.”

Mr Shepherd said casinos played a crucial role in keeping Sydney’s night-life “alive”.

Former Venues NSW and WestConnex boss Tony Shepherd. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Flight Centre boss Graham Turner said the NSW government should be “bending over backwards” to save the casino, given it has a new executive in place.

“The government should be doing everything they can within legal limits if there has been a whole new team,” he said.

“They should be bending over backwards to keep the business going, in part for those 4000 staff.”

Mr Turner said Sydney was a “tourism hotspot” and “it’s questionable if the government is doing enough” to foster the industry.

The business community has called on the state government to do what it can to keep Star Casno operating. Picture: John Feder

The casino watchdog’s decision is also being carefully watched by the United Workers Union, whose members make up many of the 4000 people at risk of losing their jobs depending on the NICC outcome.

A spokesman for the powerful Labor-aligned union said they wanted to continue to operate in a “safe” and “stable” way.

“United Workers Union members want Star to continue to work towards a safe, stable workplace, and address any issues that stand in the way of those outcomes,” the union said.

NSW Gaming Minister David Harris said the government would wait until the NICC made its decision before deciding on any action.

“Given the NICC has not yet announced its decision, it is not appropriate for the government to comment further at this time,” he said.

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