Is The Star still open after its A$260 million fine?
Yes, The Star’s casino operations have not been collectively closed because of the Federal Court’s October 2026 AML/CTF penalty. But the status of each venue is more complicated than a simple “open” or “closed” label.
The A$260 million judgment announced on 28 October concerns Commonwealth anti-money laundering law. The right to operate a casino in New South Wales or Queensland involves separate state-level licensing and supervision decisions. It is essential to distinguish whether gaming facilities remain open, whether The Star itself is authorised to operate under its own licence, and whether its listed parent has adequate liquidity.
The Star Sydney: licence suspended, casino operating under a manager
The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) announced on 25 September 2026 that The Star Sydney’s casino licence remains suspended. However, the Minister for Gaming and Racing extended appointed manager Nick Weeks’ term to 30 June 2027, permitting gaming facilities to continue operating while he holds the relevant licence on behalf of the regulated arrangement.
The NICC acknowledged progress in remediation but said there were outstanding questions over governance, leadership and organisational culture. The manager’s new end date is not an automatic licence reinstatement date. The regulator can make further decisions based on the evidence it receives.
For users searching “is The Star Sydney open?”, the accurate answer is that casino gaming continues under special management; the operator has not regained full independent control of its suspended licence.
The Star Gold Coast: suspension deferred until 31 March 2027
The Queensland government confirmed on 24 September 2026 that the planned 90-day suspension of The Star Gold Coast’s casino licence, previously scheduled to commence on 30 September, was deferred to 31 March 2027. The appointment of special manager Nick Weeks was extended to the same date.
Officials cited progress on organisational and financial reforms while emphasising that priority remediation tasks remain outstanding. The postponement is designed to give the operator additional time to demonstrate that reforms work in practice.
It should not be reported as a permanent cancellation of disciplinary action. Equally, 31 March 2027 is a regulatory checkpoint, not an announced closure date.
What about The Star Brisbane?
The Star Brisbane has a different ownership and operating structure. The Star completed the disposal of its equity interest in Destination Brisbane Consortium in April 2026, while remaining involved in the casino through a management agreement. The group’s 27 October quarterly filing says the external adviser’s appointment for The Star Brisbane extends to 31 March 2027.
That arrangement should not be confused with the suspended Sydney licence or the Gold Coast suspension deferral. Nor should The Star Brisbane at Queen’s Wharf be confused with the former Treasury Brisbane property, which closed in August 2024.
Financial results: positive EBITDA does not remove liquidity pressure
The Star’s quarterly activities report, released on 27 October 2026 for the three months to 30 September, recorded A$284 million in group revenue and A$12 million in group EBITDA, a year-on-year EBITDA improvement of A$25 million. Revenue at Sydney and Gold Coast combined reached about A$279 million, up 9% on the preceding quarter.
These figures provide evidence of an operating improvement, but EBITDA is not free cash flow. At 30 September the group reported approximately A$239 million in cash and cash equivalents, plus A$80 million in restricted deposits. Restricted deposits are not the same as freely available working capital.
The reported quarter still included statutory net operating cash outflows, and management cautioned that material uncertainties relevant to its ability to continue as a going concern remained unresolved. That is a warning about potential future outcomes, not a declaration that the business has entered formal insolvency.
Will The Star go bankrupt because of the fine?
The A$260 million penalty is large relative to the group’s reported unrestricted cash balance, but comparing those two figures alone would be misleading. The Court allowed the penalty to be paid in instalments. The business also has financing arrangements, operating commitments, regulatory remediation costs and other cash needs.
A responsible assessment requires monitoring available liquidity, actual operating cash flow, debt and transaction execution, and progress in licence remediation. Improvement in quarterly EBITDA is encouraging operational evidence, not proof that financial distress has been resolved.
As of publication, the available official disclosures do not support a definitive claim that The Star will fail, survive, or close one of its casinos on a particular future date.
Frequently asked questions
Is The Star Sydney casino open? The NICC says gaming facilities can continue operating under its appointed manager while The Star’s own licence remains suspended.
When will The Star Gold Coast regain an unrestricted licence? No automatic reinstatement date has been confirmed. The planned licence suspension was deferred to 31 March 2027 pending further oversight.
Has The Star filed for bankruptcy? The latest company disclosure identifies material going-concern uncertainty; that statement is not itself an insolvency filing or liquidation order.
Does the June 2027 date mean Sydney’s licence is restored? No. It is the current end date of the appointed manager’s term, subject to regulatory action.
What comes next?
The most relevant publicly announced dates are 31 March 2027 for Queensland’s supervisory arrangements and 30 June 2027 for Sydney’s appointed manager. Further financial results and cash-flow disclosures may change the picture sooner.
This analysis complements BetVerity’s separate report on the Federal Court’s A$260 million AML/CTF judgment. That news story covers the legal findings; this article addresses casino operations, licence status and financial resilience.