The New South Wales government announced on Saturday (14 December) that it has appointed Christine Howlett, the leader of Crown Melbourne’s remediation efforts, as a commissioner for the Australian state’s Independent Casino Commission (NICC).
Howlett will serve a four-year term with the New South Wales (NSW) casino regulator. She replaces Craig Sahlin, who worked as a commissioner for two years. This followed a spell as a board member for the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA).
Bringing with her executive leadership experience, Howlett is perhaps best known for her role in Crown Melbourne’s remediation. She oversaw the programme that followed the Royal Commission inquiry into the venue.
Led by Ray Finkelstein, the inquiry made 33 recommendations to the government, which were then passed. This followed the report finding the operator unsuitable to hold a casino licence in the state of Victoria.
Prior to Crown, Howlett held senior roles within the Victoria Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission. She also worked at the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Victoria’s Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants and the National Crime Authority.
Established in 2022, the NICC is the independent statutory regulator of NSW’s two casinos: Crown Sydney and The Star Sydney. Howlett joins the NICC at a time when the latter of these faces its own remediation programme.
Star was already facing remediation efforts from the first Bell inquiry in 2022 when Bell Two was launched in February. Bell Two saw the casino fined but retain it licence, contingent on the venue making changes.
“An exhaustive selection process was undertaken to fill the role,” NSW minister for gaming and racing David Harris said. “Howlett brings a wide range of skills and expertise to the NICC. She has highly relevant experience in independently overseeing Crown Melbourne’s remediation programme.
“She joins the NICC at a critical time with the regulator currently monitoring The Star casino’s ongoing remediation work following the Bell Two Inquiry.”
NICC chief commissioner Philip Crawford added: “Christine’s skills will be valuable to help the NICC expand its surveillance and data collection abilities to better monitor financial crime risks and compliance.
“Christine’s expertise in building internal capacity will assist the NICC to maintain effective regulatory supervision past the remediation and suitability phases and into longer-term sustainability.”
