Find Your Favourite Australia Casinos and Resorts 2026

Ziv Chen

Updated by Ziv Chen

Writer

Michael Graham

Fact Checked by Michael Graham

Content Editor

Last Updated 30th Mar 2026, 01:25 AM

Australia has 13 licensed land-based casinos spread across every state and territory, from the vast floor of Crown Melbourne to a resort on the edge of the Timor Sea in Darwin. It is one of the world's most active gambling markets, with Australians among the highest per capita gamblers on earth. The industry is regulated at state and territory level, with no single national regulator. The minimum gambling age is 18 nationwide, and online casino gaming is prohibited under federal law. The past five years have seen the sector go through its most turbulent period in history, with royal commissions, licence suspensions and billion-dollar fines reshaping the landscape considerably.

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Major Casino Operators in Australia

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

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

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.

SkyCity Entertainment

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 Casinos and Resorts

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

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.

220K Sq. Ft Gaming Floor
540 Table Games
2,500 Pokies
Yes Poker Room
Open 24/7

Crown Perth

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.

75K Sq. Ft Gaming Floor
240+ Table Games
2,000+ Pokies
Yes Poker Room
Open 24/7

Crown Sydney

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.

Sq. Ft Gaming Floor
74 Table Games
None Pokies
Yes Poker Room
Open 24/7

The Star Sydney

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.

104K Sq. Ft Gaming Floor
140+ Table Games
1,490 Pokies
Yes Poker Room
Open 24/7

The Star Gold Coast

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.

65K Sq. Ft Gaming Floor
78+ Table Games
1,600+ Pokies
Yes Poker Room
Open 24/7

The Star Brisbane

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.

~65K Sq. Ft Gaming Floor
92 Table Games
1,600 Pokies
Yes Poker Room
Open 24/7

SkyCity Adelaide

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.

129K Sq. Ft Gaming Floor
90 Table Games
950 Pokies
Yes Poker Room
Open 24/7

Did You Know?

When Wrest Point opened on the shores of Sandy Bay in Hobart on 10 February 1973, it became the first legal casino in Australia and one of the first outside Nevada and Monte Carlo. Getting there required a state-wide referendum, held in December 1968, in which Tasmanians were asked to vote on whether a casino licence should be granted. The Tasmanian government, sensing it had the numbers in parliament, passed the legislation before the referendum results were even announced. The vote passed by a margin of just six percent. Wrest Point's success changed Australian attitudes to casino gambling entirely — within 15 years, every mainland state was working towards its own licensed property, and the country that had once debated whether a single casino was acceptable now had more gaming machines per capita than almost anywhere else on earth.

Quick Comparison

CasinoSq Ft Gaming FloorTable GamesPokiesPoker RoomHours
Crown Melbourne220K5402,500Yes24/7
Crown Perth75K240+2,000+Yes24/7
The Star Sydney104K140+1,490Yes24/7
The Star Gold Coast65K78+1,600+Yes24/7
The Star Brisbane~65K921,600Yes24/7
SkyCity Adelaide129K90950Yes24/7

Other Casinos

Australia's remaining licensed properties range from the historic to the remote, offering a very different experience from the major integrated resorts.

  • Wrest Point, Hobart — Australia's first legal casino, opened 1973 on the Sandy Bay waterfront. Operated by Federal Group. Distinctive 17-storey cylindrical tower, Hobart's tallest building. Table games, gaming machines, live entertainment and four restaurants. Underwent a AU$65 million refurbishment in 2022/23 for its 50th anniversary.
  • Country Club Casino, Launceston — Tasmania's second casino, opened 1982. Operated by Federal Group. Set within a golf and country club complex in Prospect Vale on the outskirts of Launceston. Table games, gaming machines, poker room, hotel, spa and sporting facilities.
  • Reef Hotel Casino, Cairns — The only licensed casino in far north Queensland, operated by Aquis Entertainment. Five-level property in central Cairns offering table games, gaming machines, poker and multiple dining and bar venues. A key tourism anchor given its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
  • Mindil Beach Casino Resort, Darwin — The only licensed casino in the Northern Territory, operated by Delaware North. Sits on the waterfront of Fannie Bay overlooking the Timor Sea. Table games, gaming machines, poker room, hotel, restaurants and pool complex. One of the most scenically situated casino properties in the country.
  • Treasury Casino and Hotel, Brisbane — Heritage-listed venue in the former Queensland government treasury building, an Edwardian Baroque landmark in central Brisbane. Operated by Delaware North. Table games, gaming machines and a poker room across multiple levels of the restored building.
  • Canberra Casino — The only licensed casino in the Australian Capital Territory, located in the city centre. A relatively compact property offering table games and gaming machines. Primarily serves the local Canberra market rather than tourist visitors.

Did You Know?

The most played slot game in the world was designed in a shower in suburban Sydney. In 2014, Australian game designer Scott Olive conceived Lightning Link while working from his independent studio HRG Studios in Brookvale. The game, developed exclusively for Aristocrat Leisure, introduced the Hold and Spin mechanic — a feature so intuitive and compelling that it has since been adopted by virtually every major slot manufacturer on earth. By 2021 it was the top grossing slot title in the industry, played across six continents. He followed it with Dragon Link, Dollar Storm and Buffalo Link, each built on the same core mechanic.

Australia Casinos Legal Considerations

  • Gambling in Australia is regulated at state and territory level. There is no single national regulator. Each property operates under a licence issued by its local jurisdiction.
  • The minimum age to enter a casino and participate in gaming is 18 nationwide. Valid photo ID is required for entry at all properties.
  • Online casino gaming is prohibited under the federal Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Only sports betting and racing wagering are permitted online through licensed domestic operators.
  • Winnings are not subject to income tax in Australia. The Australian Taxation Office treats gambling as recreation rather than income for the vast majority of players.
  • Each state and territory has its own responsible gambling framework. Mandatory pre-commitment and player card systems are being progressively introduced, with Victoria among the most advanced in implementation.
  • Cash transactions exceeding AU$10,000 must be reported to AUSTRAC, the federal financial intelligence agency. Casinos are subject to strict anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations.
  • Self-exclusion is available at all licensed casinos. The national BetStop register, launched in 2023, allows players to self-exclude from all licensed online wagering services simultaneously.
  • Smoking is prohibited on all casino gaming floors across Australia.
  • Each casino property operates under its own specific licence conditions, which may include restrictions on gaming machine numbers, table game limits, hours of operation and responsible gambling requirements unique to that jurisdiction.

Responsible Gambling

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.

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Legal Disclaimer

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.

Meet The Author

27 Years
Experience
Ziv Chen
Ziv Chen
Writer Writer

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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Disclosure
This review is based on the writer's personal opinion
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