South Australia’s gambling regulator has reached a settlement with SkyCity Adelaide, imposing a AU$21m (US$14.8m) fine alongside new compliance measures. The agreement was announced on Friday following a comprehensive regulatory review of the casino operator’s management practices.
The financial penalty stems from a 500-page report published in August 2025 by retired Supreme Court judge Brian Martin AO KC. The review identified systemic failures in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing procedures, alongside shortcomings in gambling harm minimisation and corporate governance. Austrac previously highlighted a consistent pattern of non-compliance with federal financial regulations.
Settlement Conditions
Under the non-binding heads of agreement, the operator must appoint a majority of independent non-executive directors to its board by 1 January 2028. The chief executive will report exclusively to the board, and the company must notify the commissioner of any potential legal breaches within five business days. An independent expert review will also be commissioned to monitor ongoing regulatory adherence.Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Brett Humphrey noted that recent cultural shifts did not fully resolve past deficiencies. Background on the licence eligibility shows that Judge Martin originally determined SkyCity Adelaide was unsuitable to hold its casino licence in October 2021, but operational improvements by April 2024 restored its eligibility.
The operator was subsequently cleared to retain its land-based licence.