Queensland extends Star Gold Coast casino 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, the government announced. The extension grants the casino operator an additional six months to complete outstanding remediation work while allowing the venue to remain operational under strict regulatory supervision.

Progress and outstanding issues

The extension follows advice from Special Manager Nicholas Weeks, who acknowledged that while the casino group has made notable progress with its reform programme, several priority issues remain unresolved. Weeks’ appointment has been extended, maintaining continuous independent oversight along with the ongoing supervision of The Star Brisbane by an external adviser through the same period.

Queensland’s attorney general Deb Frecklington stated the government will take immediate action if The Star fails to deliver on its obligations.

Repeated delays

This is not the first time that The Star Gold Coast’s licence suspension has been deferred. It was previously pushed back from March 2025 to September 2026, having already been delayed several times. The Star first came under investigation in Queensland in 2022 and was subsequently deemed unsuitable for licensure in October that year.

Wider group challenges

In contrast, The Star Sydney had its licence suspension extended to 30 June 2027. The New South Wales regulator cited ongoing concerns about the company’s governance, leadership and corporate culture as key factors for extending The Star Sydney’s suspension.

New South Wales Independent Casino Commission chief commissioner Philip Crawford stated that despite the progress made by the Sydney casino, the group company continues to experience problems that affect each of its properties.

Two former senior executives of The Star Entertainment Group were found by Australia’s Federal Court to have breached the Corporations Act 2001 and were cited for failures in managing and reporting money-laundering and criminal-activity risks.