Updated by Ziv Chen
Writer
Fact Checked by Michael Graham
Content Editor
Australia's casino industry is regulated at state and territory level, meaning each property operates under a licence issued by its local jurisdiction rather than a single national body. The market is dominated by three major operators, though the landscape has shifted considerably following a wave of royal commissions and regulatory enforcement actions between 2021 and 2025.
Crown Resorts, owned by US private equity firm Blackstone since 2022, operates the three Crown properties in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The acquisition followed a series of damaging royal commissions that found Crown unsuitable to hold casino licences across multiple states. Under Blackstone's ownership the company paid AU$450 million (approximately USD $293 million) in penalties to federal financial crimes regulator AUSTRAC, overhauled its governance and has since been restored to suitability in both Victoria and Western Australia.
Star Entertainment Group operates The Star Sydney, The Star Gold Coast and The Star Brisbane, all three under independent managers appointed by state regulators. Star narrowly avoided bankruptcy in early 2025 through a rescue package from US casino operator Bally's Corporation and has since sold its stake in the Queen's Wharf Brisbane development. An AUSTRAC fine expected to exceed AU$400 million (approximately USD $260 million) remains outstanding.
New Zealand-listed SkyCity Entertainment operates SkyCity Adelaide as the only licensed casino in South Australia. Following its own AU$67 million (approximately USD $44 million) AUSTRAC penalty in 2024, SkyCity completed a three-year independent review and was confirmed suitable to retain its South Australian licence in August 2025.
Australia's major casinos are spread across five states and territories, with three Crown properties anchoring the market in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney alongside Star Entertainment's trio of properties in Sydney, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, and SkyCity's heritage-listed Adelaide property. All operate 24 hours a day and all require valid photo ID for entry. The minimum age is 18 nationwide.
Crown Melbourne is the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world, occupying 510,000 square metres of Southbank precinct along the Yarra River. Opened in 1994 and relocated to its current site in 1997, the complex is as much a city landmark as it is a casino, housing three hotels, 44 restaurants and bars, a 1,500-seat ballroom, a live theatre and 75,000 square feet of retail alongside the gaming floor.
The casino's gaming floor spans 220,000 square feet and holds a licence for 540 table games including 100 poker tables, and 2,500 electronic gaming machines. Games include blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, sic bo and pai gow across main floor and VIP salon areas. The Aussie Millions Poker Championship returns to Crown Melbourne in April and May 2026 after a significant hiatus. A AU$200 million (approximately USD $130 million) redevelopment of the precinct commenced in early 2026, targeting dining, entertainment and riverfront upgrades with staged openings through to 2027.
Crown Perth occupies the eastern bank of the Swan River in Burswood and has been Western Australia's only licensed casino since its opening in 1985, when it operated as Burswood Island Casino. Rebranded as Crown Perth in 2012 following acquisition by Crown Resorts, the integrated resort spans approximately 75,000 square feet of gaming floor and offers more than 240 table games and over 2,000 electronic gaming machines alongside three hotels, multiple restaurants including Nobu and Rockpool Bar and Grill, a Crown Theatre hosting major touring productions and a dedicated poker room.
One notable feature of Crown Perth is that Western Australian law prohibits traditional reel slot machines, so all electronic gaming machines are EGMs operating within state-regulated parameters. High rollers are catered for in The Pearl Room, a dedicated VIP salon with panoramic Swan River views. The casino operates 24 hours a day.
Crown Sydney opened in December 2020 at Barangaroo on the western edge of the Sydney CBD, housed in a 75-storey tower that stands as the tallest building in New South Wales. The property operates under a restricted gaming licence, meaning it functions as a members-only casino rather than a venue open to the general public, and was confirmed suitable to retain that licence by NSW regulators in April 2024.
There are no pokies at Crown Sydney. In 2023 the casino consolidated its two original gaming floors into a single space, the Crystal Room, which features 74 gaming tables and 35 electronic table games. Additional private table games are available in the Sky Salons on Level 28. The Sovereign Room caters to premium players with table maximums reaching AU$500,000 (approximately USD $325,000) per hand. Outside the casino, the property offers 349 hotel rooms and suites, 13 signature restaurants and a luxury spa.
The Star Sydney opened in 1997 on the Pyrmont waterfront overlooking Darling Harbour and is Australia's second largest casino. The property operates two gaming floors, a main floor open to general admission on Level 1 and the members-only Sovereign Room on Level 3, which also contains the Inner Sanctum high-limit pit. The casino spans over 104,000 square feet and has just over 1,490 electronic gaming machines, the maximum permitted under its licence, alongside more than 140 table games.
Games include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, sic bo, pai gow and three card poker. The dedicated poker room hosts cash games around the clock and major tournament series including the World Poker Tour Australia event scheduled for September 2026. The property includes the Forbes five-star rated Darling hotel, over 20 dining options and a large entertainment complex. The Star Sydney has operated under an independent special manager appointed by the NSW Independent Casino Commission since 2022 and remains under regulatory supervision as of early 2026.
The Star Gold Coast opened in November 1985 as Conrad Jupiters, Queensland's first casino, and has grown through successive redevelopments into one of Australia's largest integrated resorts. Located in Broadbeach alongside the Nerang River and connected directly to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, the seven-acre complex now encompasses nearly 1,200 hotel rooms, suites and apartments across three hotel towers, alongside eight bars, seven restaurants, a ballroom and a day spa.
The two-level casino floor spans 65,000 square feet and houses over 1,600 gaming machines and approximately 78 table games including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps and multiple poker variants. Private gaming rooms include the Sovereign, exclusive to Platinum and Diamond members, and The Suite on the main floor level for Gold members. The Star Gold Coast is now wholly owned by Star Entertainment Group following its acquisition of the Hong Kong partners' stake in the property as part of the 2025 debt restructuring.
The Star Brisbane opened in August 2024 as the centrepiece of the AU$3.6 billion (approximately USD $2.3 billion) Queen's Wharf development on the Brisbane River, a 12-hectare entertainment precinct that also includes four hotels, 50 restaurants and bars and a Sky Deck observation platform 100 metres above street level. The casino floor, which accounts for approximately 5% of the total precinct footprint, houses 1,600 electronic gaming machines and 92 table and poker games.
The property was developed by the Destination Brisbane Consortium, a joint venture between Star Entertainment Group and Hong Kong partners Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium. Following Star's financial difficulties the company has sold its stake in the development and is operating the casino on a fixed management fee arrangement pending a new operator. The future operator remains to be confirmed as of early 2026, with Crown Resorts and SkyCity both reported as candidates.
SkyCity Adelaide is the only licensed casino in South Australia and one of the most architecturally distinctive casino properties in the country, housed inside the heritage-listed former Adelaide railway station on North Terrace in the heart of the city. The building dates from 1929 and the juxtaposition of the ornate Victorian-era structure with a contemporary gaming and hotel operation gives the property a character few Australian casinos can match.
The casino's gaming floor spans 129,000 square feet across four levels and offers 90 table games and 950 gaming machines alongside multiple restaurants, bars and function spaces. A major expansion completed in 2021 added EOS by SkyCity, a 120-room boutique hotel with a rooftop bar and pool. SkyCity Adelaide holds an exclusive casino licence for South Australia until 2035, was cleared to retain that licence by state regulators in August 2025 following a three-year review, and operates 24 hours a day.
| Casino | Sq Ft Gaming Floor | Table Games | Pokies | Poker Room | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Melbourne | 220K | 540 | 2,500 | Yes | 24/7 |
| Crown Perth | 75K | 240+ | 2,000+ | Yes | 24/7 |
| The Star Sydney | 104K | 140+ | 1,490 | Yes | 24/7 |
| The Star Gold Coast | 65K | 78+ | 1,600+ | Yes | 24/7 |
| The Star Brisbane | ~65K | 92 | 1,600 | Yes | 24/7 |
| SkyCity Adelaide | 129K | 90 | 950 | Yes | 24/7 |
Australia's remaining licensed properties range from the historic to the remote, offering a very different experience from the major integrated resorts.
Gambling is a popular form of entertainment in Australia, but it carries real risks. If gambling is causing stress, financial difficulty or conflict in your life, confidential help is available.
The National Gambling Helpline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 858 858 and offers free counselling, information and referral services for anyone affected by gambling, including family members. Online support is also available at gamblinghelponline.org.au.
All licensed Australian casinos participate in self-exclusion programmes. You can also register with BetStop, Australia's national self-exclusion register, to exclude yourself from all licensed online wagering services in a single step. Visit betstop.gov.au or call 1800 238 786.
Before you play, set a budget and a time limit. Never chase losses and only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Casino details, operator status, regulatory decisions and licensing conditions in Australia are subject to change, and the Australian casino landscape has been particularly active in recent years. We recommend verifying current information directly with individual properties or their relevant state and territory regulators before visiting.
Gambling is legal in Australia at licensed land-based venues only. Online casino gaming remains prohibited under federal law. Players are responsible for ensuring they comply with the laws applicable in their state or territory.
Ziv Chen has been working in the online gambling industry for over two decades in senior marketing and business development roles. Ziv writes about a wide range of topics including slot and table games, casino and sportsbook reviews, American sports news, betting odds and game predictions. Leading a life full of conflict, Ziv constantly struggles between his two greatest loves: American football and US soccer.
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