The NSW state government has postponed by two years a plan to lower the daily cash limit for casino customers from AU$5,000 (US$3,235) to AU$1,000 (US$647) by two years. The new limit – representing the amount of raw cash each customer is allowed to use each day – was due to come into effect from 19 August 2025 but will now be delayed until 19 August 2027, providing some relief for the state’s two casinos: The Star Sydney and Crown Sydney.
In a filing, Star noted that the two-year reprieve is subject to various conditions including monitoring the use of cash for gaming purposes and providing ongoing reports to Liquor & Gaming NSW in relation to various customer and related data. The deferral can also be revoked at any time during the extended two-year period.
The move is seen as a special concession for Star and Crown given the challenging trading conditions each has faced in the wake of recent inquiries into their suitability. Those inquiries have seen a raft of new cost-heavy systems and processes put into place to ensure greater compliance around AML and responsible gambling, including mandatory carded play across casino floors. Star stated that its gaming revenues in Sydney had fallen by more than 10% in the weeks following the implementation of mandatory carded play – a stipulation that is not required of the state’s many pubs and clubs.
In comments to the Australian Financial Review, a government spokesperson said, “The government has now determined to continue this transitional arrangement … for another two years. The continuation of this arrangement was approved in recognition of several factors, including the effectiveness of other financial crime measures … along with concerns by casino operators about potential employment impacts.”
The AFR noted that both Star and Crown had written to the state government earlier this year requesting the extension, in part to allow them more time to implement the change. Star, in particular, needs to refit its 1,500 poker (slot) machines to match the new limits, the report said. Crown Sydney does have poker machines.
Star, whose survival is dependent on finalizing the AU$300 million rescue package led by US casino operator Bally’s Corp that was recently agreed by shareholders, reported late last month an AU$27 million (US$17.6 million) EBITDA loss in 2Q25, widened from the AU$23 million (US$15.0 million) loss reported in Q1.
