Under an in-principle agreement with the Commissioner for Liquor and Gambling in South Australia, SkyCity Adelaide will pay an A$13 million (€8 million) administrative penalty to resolve historical compliance failures.
The fine will be paid in three equal instalments, with the first A$7m payment due within 28 days of the agreement, dated June 19, 2026, and further equal instalments following within one and two years after.
The fine is one element of a wider settlement with the Commissioner to resolve regulatory issues flagged over SkyCity’s Adelaide casino during an independent review published last year. Led by retired Supreme Court judge Brian Martin, this found SkyCity Adelaide was suitable to retain its casino licence despite past compliance failings.
The 514-page report identified a poor and inadequate culture at SkyCity until late 2021, highlighting that the board failed to exercise basic governance powers while senior management resisted reforms. At the time, Martin reported positive progress but warned that the target of completing remediation by June 30, 2027, would be difficult to achieve given the complexity of the tasks. This concern has been addressed as part of the settlement agreement, with certain key terms granted a longer deadline to allow SkyCity more time to implement deep structural modifications.
Implementation Timelines and Structural Accountability
Once its compliance transformation programme is completed by June 2027, SkyCity Adelaide must appoint an independent compliance auditor to provide annual reports. A broader package of governance reforms is due by January 1, 2028. By then, the Adelaide casino’s board must comprise a majority of independent non-executive directors, including an independent chair.
Meanwhile, SkyCity Adelaide will be prohibited from delegating certain functions and responsibilities to its parent company without regulatory approval. Other elements include appointing an Adelaide casino CEO to report directly to the local board, with the majority of senior managers reporting to that executive.
SkyCity will also phase out cash transactions above A$4,999 and formalise its existing prohibition on junket operations. Elsewhere, the regulator will gain stronger powers to issue binding directions. The resolution looks set to conclude a lengthy regulatory case that was previously paused for 18 months while AUSTRAC pursued Federal Court action, which culminated in June 2024 with a A$67m civil penalty.
Jason Walbridge, Chief Executive Officer at SkyCity, commented on the restorative milestones of the judicial settlement:
“The in-principle settlement is an important step for the company, reflecting its efforts in recent 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 structural changes for the Adelaide Casino – including an independent Adelaide board and locally accountable leadership – reflect a genuine commitment to operating as a responsible casino operator. We are grateful for the constructive engagement of the Commissioner’s office throughout this process.”
