The High Court of Auckland in New Zealand has filed a lawsuit against bet365, Super Group, and SkyCity Entertainment Group, accusing the operators of offering illegal online...
SkyCity agrees AU$21M penalty over Adelaide casino failings
SkyCity Entertainment Group has agreed to pay a AU$21M penalty as part of a settlement linked to regulatory failings at its Adelaide casino, closing a long-running investigation into compliance issues in South Australia.
The case followed an inquiry led by retired Supreme Court judge Brian Martin, which found significant failings in how SkyCity Adelaide Casino met its obligations around anti-money laundering controls and harm minimization. Despite those findings, the final report last year still concluded that the operator remained suitable to hold its license, following extensive remedial work.
South Australia’s Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Brett Humphrey has since been considering enforcement action, ultimately reaching an in-principle agreement with SkyCity on the $21M fine.
SkyCity CEO Jason Walbridge said:
“Reaching this in-principle agreement is an important step for SkyCity and reflects the significant work our team has done over the past four years to transform our compliance culture, strengthen our governance, and earn back the trust of our regulators. We accept the findings that led to this outcome and take seriously the obligations we have committed to.”
The fine will be paid in three installments: $7M within 28 days of the agreement being finalized, a second $7M after one year, and the final payment before the two-year mark.
Alongside the financial penalty, the settlement introduces stricter governance requirements at the Adelaide property. SkyCity is required to establish a board with a majority of independent non-executive directors, including an independent chair, and appoint a separate CEO for the Adelaide casino who will report directly to that board.
Cash transactions exceeding $4,999 will be prohibited at the venue, with an independent compliance auditor appointed to submit annual reports on progress.
The agreement came not long after SkyCity updated its FY26 outlook in May. With these wider economic pressures, the operator now expects underlying EBITDA to land between $180M and $190M, down from its previous forecast of $190M-210M.
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