Land based casinos
Australia is well known for the absolute excellence in its casino industry across the globe, with many being so impressive that they are second just to those of Las Vegas and Macau in terms of size. The big guns in the industry such as Reef and Crown have always been considered a gambling haven to both local players and international visitors. Here they can find themselves enjoying an ambience that only a top land based casino can provide.
Chapters
- Australian Casino Industry: History
- Quick facts about gambling in Australia
- List of land casinos in Australia
- Casino legality and Licensing
- Gambling regulators in Australia
Our article below covers the most popular gaming destinations across the country and between them they ensure that every Aussie player can find somewhere outstanding to try their luck.
History of Casinos in Australia
The land based casinos appeared in the country some forty years ago and their popularity with locals and the tourists from other countries just kept increasing. Established in 2026, The Wrest Point Hotel Casino was the first casino in Australia that was legalized by the government. By 1999-2026, Australians wagered almost $114 billion which was over 30 times more than back in 1973-74 when it first initiated.
With Australia being equally well known for the love of pokies among players, every visitor can be assured of a wide range of poker machines, although land based casinos rarely skimp on the video poker or table game action, meaning that there is something for every player to enjoy.
Currently Australia hosts 12 land casinos in total which we have listed with a brief introduction further down in this article.
Quick Casino facts in Australia
Largest gambling state: New South Wales
Largest gambling establishment: Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex (500 table games and over 5000 gaming machines.
Casino Revenue in 2007-08: $23.70 billion Source: Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation
Land casinos and gambling houses in Australia
|
Casino |
State/Territory |
Operator |
Licensing Commission |
|
Adelaide Casino |
Adelaide, South Australia |
Skycity Entertainment Group |
South Australia – Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner |
|
Casino Canberra |
Canberra, Australia Capital Territory |
Casinos Australia Int'l Ltd. |
Australian Capital Territory – ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
|
|
Country Club Casino |
Launceston, Tasmania |
Federal Group |
Tasmanian Gaming Commission |
|
Crown Casino |
Melbourne, Victoria |
Crown Limited |
Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation |
|
Crown Casino |
Perth, Western Australia |
Crown Limited |
Government of Western Australia – Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor |
|
Lasseters Hotel Casino |
Alice Springs, Northern Territory |
Lasseters International Holdings |
Northern Territory – Licensing Commission
|
|
Jupiters Casino |
Gold Coast, Queensland |
Echo Entertainment Group |
Government of Queensland – Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation |
|
Pullman Reef Hotel Casino |
Cairns, Queensland |
||
|
Skycity Casino |
Darwin, Northern Territory |
Skycity Entertainment Group |
Northern Territory – Licensing Commission
|
|
Star Casino |
Sydney, New South Wales |
Echo Entertainment Group |
New South Wales Casino Control Authority |
|
Treasury Casino |
Brisbane, Queensland |
Echo Entertainment Group |
Government of Queensland – Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation |
|
Wrest Point Casino (first legal Australian casino) |
Hobart, Tasmania |
Federal Group |
Tasmanian Gaming Commission |
Licensing and Jurisdictions
Gambling policy in Australia has customarily been the obligation of the States rather than the Commonwealth. State and regional governments direct and provide gambling houses the necessary services while also relying heavily on the gambling income. On the other hand, the Commonwealth has recently stepped up in taking more responsibility and decisions, playing a dynamic role in the equation. The nationwide concern over the effect of betting on Australian culture provoked the Commonwealth to step in and interfere between the independent state authorities and the land casinos.
List of Gambling regulators and jurisdictions in Australia
- Australian Capital Territory – ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
- New South Wales Casino Control Authority
- Northern Territory – Licensing Commission
- Queensland – Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation
- South Australia – Independent Gambling Authority
- Tasmania – Tasmanian Gaming Commission
- Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation
- Western Australia – Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor