ILGA Chair Philip Crawford explained the new liquor licences had been issued on an interim basis and are scheduled to expire on 30 June 2022.

Mr Crawford commented: “In December last year, ILGA agreed to work with Crown Resorts to enable the opening of non-gaming areas such as accommodation, restaurants, bars and entertainment areas. The three interim liquor licences permit alcohol to continue to be sold within the resort at a number of non-gaming bar areas and two ground floor restaurants within the facility.”

He also mentioned that ILGA’s position on Crown Sydney’s gaming operations has not changed as the Authority is still monitoring and assessing the group’s responses to the issues arising from the Bergin Report.

Crawford continued: “These issues are complex, and Crown is required to undertake significant change to satisfy the Authority that it is on a pathway to becoming suitable to hold a gaming licence. It will take further time for Crown to fully implement that change and for the Authority to give it proper consideration before making its determination.”

After being found unfit to hold a gaming licence for the casino at Barangaroo (after a year-long inquiry investigated by the ILGA), Crown Resorts has made new commitments with the Authority to be allowed to open the casino inside the tower.

The commitments include plans to pay a portion of the costs of Commissioner Patricia Bergin’s inquiry, paying a casino supervision levy, ceasing all international junket partnerships, adopting a cashless gaming model and phasing out indoor smoking.

IGLA Chair concluded: “If you look back to February, there's no doubt that Crown working with us has achieved a lot.”