SkyCity to Pay AUD 21 Million Settlement Over Regulatory Breaches at Adelaide Casino

SkyCity Entertainment Group has agreed to pay AUD 21 million (about $14.72 million) in a settlement with South Australia’s Commissioner for Liquor and Gambling over compliance breaches at its Adelaide casino. For high-risk operators, the useful part is not the headline number alone: the deal comes with a long list of operational changes, deadlines, and independent oversight.

1. The settlement closes a regulatory case that began after an independent review by retired Supreme Court judge Brian Martin. His 514-page report, published last year, said SkyCity had maintained a “poor and inadequate culture” until late 2021, and concluded that the board failed to exercise its fundamental governance responsibilities while senior management was initially reluctant to implement meaningful reforms after the issues became public in 2021.
2. Several parts of the settlement come with extended implementation timeframes, which gives SkyCity more time to complete the required reforms. Once its compliance transformation program is finished, expected by June 2027, SkyCity Adelaide will have to appoint an independent compliance auditor to assess adherence to regulatory obligations and issue annual compliance reports.
3. The agreement also changes the management structure at the Adelaide casino. SkyCity will appoint a CEO for the property who will report directly to the local board, with most senior managers reporting through that role. In parallel, the casino will phase out cash transactions above AUD 4,999 (about $3,500) and formally ban junket operations.
4. SkyCity said the settlement marks another step in its development. CEO Jason Walbridge said it would help transform the company’s compliance culture, strengthen governance, and rebuild trust with regulators. He also said SkyCity accepted the findings behind the outcome and took seriously the obligations it had committed to.
5. The case has been running since June 2022 and was paused for 18 months while the Australian Transaction Reports Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) pursued action in the Federal Court. SkyCity still has other legal issues elsewhere, including a lawsuit filed against its Malta-based casino a couple of months ago.