Star Casino Review 2026: Sydney's AU$2.2bn Flagship

The Star Sydney occupies a 3-hectare site on Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, roughly 2 km west of the Sydney CBD. It opened in September 1995 as Star City and today operates under a NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) licence, with The Star Entertainment Group listed on the ASX under the ticker SGR. This review covers the property's gaming floor, hotel, dining, regulatory history, and how it compares with other Australian venues.

One clarification before anything else: The Star is a land-based casino. It is not an online operator, and it does not offer a downloadable or browser-based casino product to Australian residents. Readers searching for a "star casino review" in the context of online play are usually looking at offshore brands that borrow the name, or at the separate Star Entertainment properties in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Those are different assets with different licences.

What Is The Star Sydney and Who Regulates It?

The Star Sydney is one of two casino licences granted in the Sydney metropolitan area, the other being Crown Sydney at Barangaroo. The property sits on land at Pyrmont that was formerly industrial wharf space, redeveloped in the early 1990s at a reported cost of around AU$850 million. The casino licence itself is a restricted gaming licence under the Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW).

Regulation changed materially in 2022. Following the Bell Report and the Gotterson Review, the NICC was established as an independent regulator, replacing the former Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority in the casino oversight role. The Star Sydney had its licence suspended in October 2022, and a manager was appointed to run the casino while the operator worked through a remediation program. That suspension was extended multiple times. By 2024 the NICC had determined the operator remained unsuitable to hold the licence but allowed operations to continue under a manager, with further assessments scheduled.

Financial penalties attached to that process are substantial. The Star Entertainment Group has recorded provisions in the hundreds of millions of dollars across NSW, Queensland, and federal AML/CTF matters. AUSTRAC proceedings alone involve a civil penalty exposure that, under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006, can reach AU$22.2 million per contravention for bodies corporate. The number of alleged contraventions determines the theoretical ceiling, and that ceiling runs into the billions.

How Big Is the Gaming Floor?

The casino floor spans multiple levels and holds roughly 1,400 electronic gaming machines and around 140 table games, including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and poker variants. A dedicated poker room operates with 20-plus tables and runs regular tournament series. The private gaming salons on the upper levels handle higher-limit play and are restricted to nominated members.

Slot machine denominations start at 1 cent and climb to AU$5 and above in premium areas. Table minimums on the main floor typically open at AU$10 to AU$25 depending on the game and time of day, with VIP salons requiring substantially higher buy-ins. Opening hours are 24 hours, seven days a week, with the exception of restricted trading days such as Good Friday and Christmas Day, when gaming is suspended under NSW law.

What About the Hotel and Non-Gaming Facilities?

The complex includes two hotel towers. The Star Grand Hotel offers around 480 rooms and suites, while the Darling Hotel, which opened in 2011, adds roughly 170 rooms at the higher end. Room rates fluctuate with demand: midweek stays commonly price between AU$200 and AU$350, while weekend and event periods can push past AU$600 for a Darling suite.

Dining covers more than 20 venues, several of which have held Australian Good Food Guide hats. The theatre, now branded as the Sydney Lyric, seats approximately 2,000 people and hosts long-run musical productions. A rooftop bar, multiple casual outlets, and a nightclub round out the non-gaming offer. Parking on site runs to roughly 1,000 spaces across the complex.

How Does The Star Compare With Other Australian Casinos?

Australia has 13 casino licences spread across the states and territories. The Star Entertainment Group holds three of them: Sydney, Brisbane (the Treasury), and the Gold Coast (Star Gold Coast). Crown Resorts holds Crown Melbourne and Crown Perth, plus the newer Crown Sydney. SkyCity operates in Adelaide and Darwin, and there are single-venue licences in Hobart (Wrest Point), Cairns (Reef), Townsville, Alice Springs, and Lasseters in Alice Springs.

Comparing them on gaming floor size alone is misleading, because NSW and Victorian venues carry different tax rates and different machine caps. The table below sets out the main metrics for the largest venues.

Crown Sydney is the outlier: it holds a restricted gaming licence that permits table games only, with no poker machines, and its casino floor is limited to two levels. That structure was a deliberate condition of its approval in 2020, intended to distinguish it from The Star's broader machine offering.

Which Operators Dominate the NSW Machine Market?

Poker machines in NSW are concentrated in pubs and clubs, not casinos. The state has around 85,000 EGMs in more than 4,000 venues, and The Star's 1,400 machines represent under 2% of that total. ClubsNSW and the Australian Hotels Association are the dominant lobbying bodies in that space, and their influence shapes NSW gaming policy more than the casino sector does.

That context matters when reading claims that The Star is "the biggest casino in Australia." By floor area it competes with Crown Melbourne, which is larger. By revenue, Crown Melbourne has historically led, though post-2020 numbers have shifted. By regulatory pressure, The Star has been the most scrutinised venue in the country since 2021.

What Does the Regulatory Record Show?

The Star's compliance history is the single most important factor in any honest assessment. Three separate inquiries in 2021 and 2022 found systemic failures in anti-money laundering controls, responsible gambling monitoring, and governance. The NSW Bell Report, the Queensland Gotterson Review, and the federal AUSTRAC proceedings all reached similar conclusions about the operator's internal controls during the period under review.

Specific findings included the failure to properly monitor a junket operator later linked to organised crime, inadequate customer due diligence on high-value players, and a carded play system that did not function as intended. The remediation program has since introduced mandatory carded play across the gaming floor, cash limits at the cage, and expanded staff training. Whether those measures are sufficient is a question the NICC has not yet answered definitively.

The AU$100 million penalties in both NSW and Queensland were the largest of their kind at the time. They have since been dwarfed by the theoretical AUSTRAC exposure, though the final figure depends on how many contraventions are proven and at what level the court sets the penalty.

Does The Star Hold Any International Licences?

No. The Star Entertainment Group operates only in Australia. It has no offshore casino licences in Malta, Curacao, Kahnawake, or anywhere else, and it does not run an online casino. Any site presenting itself as "Star Casino online" is either an unrelated offshore brand or a marketing page pointing to third-party operators. The Star's own digital presence is limited to hotel bookings, restaurant reservations, and show tickets.

This is worth stating plainly because the phrase "star casino" is used loosely across the affiliate market. Brands such as Starz, Star Wins, or similar names have no connection to The Star Entertainment Group. If you are looking for online play, you are looking at an entirely different regulatory environment, typically Curacao or Anjouan licensed, with no NSW consumer protections attached.

Practical Information for Visitors

Entry to the gaming floor requires photo identification and proof of age. The legal minimum age for casino gaming in NSW is 18. Patrons must be 18 or over to enter the gaming areas, and the casino operates a self-exclusion scheme in conjunction with the NSW government's statewide program. Dress standards apply: smart casual at minimum, with collared shirts required in some salons and no thongs, singlets, or workwear on the main floor after 6pm.

The property is accessible by light rail from Central Station to The Star stop, by bus, and by ferry to Pyrmont Bay Wharf. Rideshare pickup is at the Pirrama Road entrance. Parking is charged by the hour, with validation available for hotel guests and restaurant diners above certain spend thresholds.

What Responsible Gambling Tools Are Available?

The Star participates in the NSW self-exclusion register, which allows a person to ban themselves from all licensed venues in the state, not just the casino. Minimum exclusion periods start at six months and can be extended indefinitely. The casino also offers a venue-specific exclusion, which is narrower but can be enacted faster.

Support services are displayed throughout the property. The national gambling helpline in Australia is 1800 858 858, operated by Gambling Help Online, available 24 hours a day. The NSW Gambling Help service provides free counselling, and the BetStop national self-exclusion register, launched in August 2023, covers online wagering operators. BetStop does not cover land-based casinos, which is why the state scheme exists separately.

Cash input limits at the gaming floor have been tightened since 2022. Carded play is mandatory for machine play, and cash transactions at the cage above certain thresholds trigger reporting obligations under the AML/CTF Act. These measures came directly out of the inquiry findings.

How Do Dining and Entertainment Prices Run?

Restaurant pricing sits at the upper end of the Sydney market without being the most expensive in the city. A main course at the flagship seafood venue typically runs AU$45 to AU$70. The buffet, when operating, prices around AU$70 to AU$95 per person depending on the session. Bar drinks start near AU$12 for a beer and AU$20 for a cocktail. Theatre tickets range from AU$80 to AU$250 depending on the production and seating.

Hotel packages frequently bundle a night's accommodation with dining credit or show tickets, and those bundles often represent better value than booking components separately. Check the official site for current offers rather than third-party resellers, which sometimes mark up or misrepresent inclusions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Star Casino open 24 hours?

The gaming floor operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with closures on restricted trading days including Good Friday and Christmas Day under NSW law. Restaurants and bars keep their own hours, and some venues close between lunch and dinner service. Hotel check-in runs around the clock.

Can I play at The Star Casino online?

No. The Star Entertainment Group does not operate an online casino. Its digital services cover hotel bookings, dining reservations, and show tickets only. Any website offering "Star Casino" online play is unaffiliated with the Sydney property and holds a different, usually offshore, licence with no NSW consumer protections.

What is the minimum age to enter The Star Sydney?

Eighteen. Photo identification is required at the gaming floor entrances, and the casino enforces age checks strictly. Patrons under 18 may access non-gaming areas such as restaurants and the theatre when accompanied, but cannot enter gaming areas under any circumstances.

How much did The Star pay in fines?

NSW and Queensland each imposed penalties of AU$100 million in 2022, totalling AU$200 million across the two states. The AUSTRAC civil proceedings carry a theoretical exposure of up to AU$22.2 million per contravention, with the final figure still subject to court determination.

Is The Star Sydney still under a manager?

Yes. The NICC appointed a manager in 2022 and has extended that arrangement multiple times. The operator continues to trade under the manager while the regulator assesses whether the remediation program has made the group suitable to resume full licence control. No final decision had been published as of early 2026.

Does The Star have a poker room?

Yes. The poker room operates with more than 20 tables and runs regular cash games and tournament series. It is one of the larger poker rooms in Australia, competing mainly with Crown Melbourne's room, which runs more tables and higher-stakes games on average.

What is the dress code at The Star?

Smart casual at minimum. Collared shirts are required in some salons, and the casino prohibits thongs, singlets, and workwear on the main gaming floor, particularly after 6pm. Enforcement varies by area, with VIP salons applying stricter standards than the general floor.

Where is The Star Sydney located?

Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, about 2 km west of the Sydney CBD. The light rail stops directly at The Star, ferries run to Pyrmont Bay Wharf, and the site has roughly 1,000 parking spaces. It sits adjacent to the Darling Harbour precinct and the International Convention Centre.

Final Assessment

The Star Sydney is a large, well-equipped integrated resort with a gaming floor, two hotels, more than 20 dining venues, and a 2,000-seat theatre. Its non-gaming offer is genuinely competitive with anything in the city. The gaming side carries a regulatory cloud that no amount of marble flooring offsets, and the ongoing management arrangement is the defining fact of its current operating status.

For visitors, the practical experience remains largely unchanged: carded play, cash limits, ID checks, and a floor that runs around the clock. For anyone assessing the venue as a business or a licence holder, the NICC's pending suitability decision is the number to watch. If you or someone you know is affected by gambling harm, the national helpline is 1800 858 858, and the NSW self-exclusion register covers all licensed venues in the state. The legal minimum age for casino gaming in Australia is 18.