In Australia and local casino operator Crown Resorts Limited has reportedly been granted an interim liquor license that will allow it to commence some non-gaming services at its new Crown Sydney development from December 28.

According to a report from Inside Asian Gaming, the license from the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority runs only until the end of April and covers the 350 hotel rooms within the five-star facility as well as all of its bars and some of its restaurants. However, the source detailed that the regulator has held off granting permission for a pair of eateries within the Sydney property to serve alcohol as it awaits the completion of an official inquiry being conducted by former New South Wales Supreme Court Judge Patricia Bergin.

Severe scuppering:

Sydney-listed Crown Resorts Limited had reportedly been planning to fully open the $1.6 billion development for the harborside Barangaroo district of Australia’s largest city from December 14 following around 50 months of construction. The new venue was also due to premiere complete with a casino featuring some 120 gaming tables but had its long-term future placed in danger earlier this year via the initiation of the inquiry looking into its parent’s suitability to continue holding a gambling license for New South Wales.

Possible punishment:

The New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority is to reportedly begin deliberations on the longer-term future of Crown Resorts Limited in the country’s most populated state from early-February following the publication of the interim findings of the ongoing examination. The Melbourne-headquartered casino firm could then purportedly be hit with a wide range of penalties including the payment of a fine, a mandatory reorganization of its board or even further stipulations on the man responsible for 36% of its shares, billionaire Australian businessman James Packer.

Ongoing ambiguity:

After granting the interim liquor license, the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority reportedly declared that its position on gambling operations within the 75-story Crown Sydney had not changed and that it would now ‘work with Crown Resorts Limited to enable opening this month of all non-gaming areas including accommodation, restaurants, bars and entertainment areas.’