An independent review into the operations of the SkyCity Adelaide Casino by retired Supreme Court Judge, the Hon Brian Martin AO KC, has found that SkyCity Adelaide is suitable to hold South Australia’s only casino licence.
The review also found past failures and ongoing issues.
Liquor and Gambling Commissioner, Brett Humphrey, is continuing to consider Mr Martin’s findings to determine what further enforcement action may be taken.
Read the report (PDF, 18.2 MB).
The review
Mr Martin was first appointed in July 2022 to conduct an investigation under section 22(2) of the Casino Act 1997 (SA) in regard to the suitability of SkyCity Adelaide and SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited.
The investigation considered the suitability of SkyCity Adelaide to continue to hold the casino licence under the Casino Act 1997 and the suitability of SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited to continue to be a close associate of SkyCity Adelaide.
SkyCity Adelaide Pty Ltd (ACN 082 362 061) (‘SkyCity Adelaide’) holds the licence to operate the casino located on North Terrace, Adelaide.
SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited is a New Zealand based company and is the ultimate holding company for SkyCity Adelaide.
Mr Martin is a retired Supreme Court Justice, who was appointed as the Senior Crown Prosecutor in 1982 and as a King's Counsel in 1984.
He subsequently became the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions before being appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia in 1999.
He was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Northern Territory in 2004 and held the position until 2010. Between February 2012 and November 2012, Mr Martin was also an Acting Judge of the Western Australian Supreme Court.
Timeline:
2025 - August
Liquor and Gambling Commissioner, Brett Humphrey released Mr Martin’s report (PDF, 18.2 MB).
While Mr Martin’s report highlighted significant failings of SkyCity Adelaide’s casino management, found in both his and the investigations undertaken by financial regulator AUSTRAC (the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre), it also noted SkyCity Adelaide’s substantial commitment to addressing those failings.
“If I had been asked to determine the suitability of the licensee and SCEG [SkyCity Entertainment Group] at the end of October 2021, the inevitable answer would have been that neither were suitable,” Mr Martin wrote.
“I am satisfied that, today, the licensee is a suitable person to hold the licence and operate the casino.”
2024
The investigation resumed following the conclusion of AUSTRAC proceedings on 7 June.
Mr Martin was given an extension of time to complete his report by the end of May 2025.
2023
In February 2023, the investigation iwas paused after Mr Martin advised the then Commissioner that it was not possible to reliably determine the question of suitability until the proceedings that arose from AUSTRAC were resolved.
AUSTRAC took civil action against SkyCity Adelaide in the Federal Court of Australia for breaching the national Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006.
On 29 May, the then Liquor and Gambling Commissioner confirmed he had directed SkyCity Adelaide to establish a comprehensive program of work to ensure it is meeting its anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and gambling harm minimisation obligations.
An Independent Monitor was to monitor the development and implementation of the program of work.
On 23 August 2023, the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner approved the appointment of consultancy Kroll as the Independent Monitor to monitor the compliance of SkyCity Adelaide.
2022
The Honourable Brian Martin AO KC is appointed as the investigator.