Casinos in New South Wales

New South Wales (NSW) is on the eastern coast of Australia, bordering Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria. The capital of NSW is Sydney, the most thickly populated city in Australia. The coal, financial services, information technology, and tourism industries contribute the most to the state's economy.

Size of New South Wales	801,150 square kilometers Four times bigger than the UK
Most Populated Area	Two-thirds of the population (5.3 million) live in Greater Sydney.
Population	8.1 million
Important Gaming Laws	The Betting and Racing Act 1998 Totalizator Act 1997 Betting and Racing Regulations 2012 Casino Control Act 1992 Gambling (Two-up) Act 1998 Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007 Gaming Machine Act 2001 Gaming Machine Act 2001 Lotteries and Art Unions Act 1901 Public Lotteries Act 1996 Registered Clubs Act 1976 Unlawful Gambling Act 1998
Licensed Casinos	The Star Sydney

Legality of Casinos in New South Wales

Liquor & Gaming NSW implements government policies that seek to balance business development with the reduction of gambling-related harm.

The NSW regulates wagering as per the provisions of the Totalizator Act 1997 and the Betting and Racing Act 1998. These laws decide which operator can offer gambling services within NSW, what constitutes legal betting, and which requirements gambling operators must comply with.

Liquor & Gaming NSW and the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) maintain and administer systems to license, supervise, and control casinos. They make sure that casinos remain free from crime, offer gaming services honestly, and minimize the harmful impact of gambling on society.  

Check the following table for details on the legalities of gambling in New South Wales:

New South Wales Gambling Information Portal	https://www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/resources
Legal Games	Online and land-based lottery games, online and land-based sports betting, slot machines, electronic gaming machines, land-based pokies, and land-based casinos offering baccarat, blackjack, and poker.
Unlawful Games	Two-up is illegal gambling in New South Wales as per the Gambling (Two-Up) Act. In-play betting, instant-win online lotteries, and telephone betting are also illegal. Selling, organizing, or participating in unlawful gambling activities in NSW can get you up to 12 months of jail time and a fine of up to $5,500.
Gambling Regulator in New South Wales	Liquor and Gaming NSW
Responsibilities of Liquor and Gaming NSW	The following are the responsibilities of Liquor & Gaming NSW: Implement government policies that seek to balance business development with the reduction of gambling-related harm. Provide advice related to the implementation and development of government policy. Ensure compliance. Monitor revenue collected from gaming activity. Oversee technical standards for gaming machines.

Here are some facts related to gambling in NSW:

• In 2018, the Government of NSW introduced new laws to increase penalties for operators who promote inducements to gamble.
• Two-up betting is illegal in NSW.
• You can place bets legally with a bookie only at licensed racecourses.
• Racecourses can legally permit betting on horse races, greyhound races, or harness races.

NSW Minimum Gambling Age

The legal age to gamble in NSW is 18.

NSW has thrown open its cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, and hospitality venues. You can visit a casino in NSW whenever you please. You do not have to carry a vaccination certificate or be fully vaccinated. Hotel casino resorts no longer have to implement Covid-19 Safe Check-in. Also, patrons do not have to use face masks.

List of Land-based Casinos in NSW

Currently, only one hotel casino resort in NSW offers casino games. You can play 1500+ electronic gaming machines and hundreds of table games at The Star Sydney.

On June 22, 2022, Crown Sydney received a provisional license to offer gaming services. Although Crown Sydney launched its hotel in December 2020, it had to delay the launch of its casino. The company had to prove to the NSW regulator its fitness to hold the required license because it had undergone investigation for improper business practices, including money laundering.  

Casino	Address	Contact Info	About	Poker	Other Games
The Star Sydney	The Star Pty Limited, ABN 25 060 510 410, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009, Sydney, Australia	Call (02) 9777-9000	The Star Sydney is the most happening place in NSW. The casino keeps patrons entertained round-the-clock with special offers. You will find no shortage of entertainment to liven up your nights. The Star offers the best fine dining experiences in restaurants like Sokyo, ELE by Federico & Karl, Flying Fish, The Century, Cucina Porto, and BLACK Bar & Grill. Play a luxurious stay in the Harbourside Jewel, which offers five-star accommodation, fine restaurants, a cool selection of bars, and a world-class spa and casino. You can join the Star Club for loyalty rewards, download the Star App, or play online at StarPlay. Star Sydney is a great place in NSW to eat, drink, relax at the spa, and play casino games. If you subscribe to the Star Newsletter, you will get the latest news and offers in your inbox.	Yes	Baccarat, Roulette, Blackjack, Dice Games, Other Casino Games

Best Casinos in NSW in 2023

The only casino in NSW is The Star Sydney because The Crown Sydney has not yet launched its casino services.

The Star Sydney Casino runs many lucrative promotions, including the 1-in-5 Swipestakes, The Star Leaderboard Baccarat, The Star Tournament, Wristband Cash Draw, and Tiger Baccarat Cash Frenzy.

Star Poker

The most exciting feature of the casino is Star Poker, which offers cash games and weekly tournaments like Deep Freeze, Big Bounty, Super Turbo Freezeout, and Super Deep Stack. The poker room also offers weekly tournaments and Sydney Champs, the longest-running Poker Series.

The Stadium

The Stadium offers a cinematic experience of playing Roulette, Blackjack, and other games on a 15x3.5 meter mega screen. Playing table games and card games in the Stadium is an unrivalled experience, especially as the betting starts from only $1. The Stadium is between the 24/7 Sports Bar and Star Poker on the main casino floor.

The Star Club

You can join the Star Club and earn several exclusive rewards and benefits. The hotel casino awards Tier Points and Casino Dollars when patrons play, dine, and stay at any of its three properties.  

You can redeem Casino Dollars for free play, food and beverages, and many others. Reach higher levels of the rewards program to unlock more benefits. You can unlock up to a 30% discount at the hotels, restaurants & bars, and spas as you progress through the tiers.

The Star Sydney also offers the feature-rich Star App for quick access to the Star Club.

NSW Casinos with Bonuses

Visit the official website of Star Sydney and click on What's On to view a list of events, offers, bonuses, tournaments, and promotions at the hotel-casino resort. June, July, August, and September are super-charged with entertainment and excitement at The Star. The list of fun events includes sports events on super-sized screens, live music, comedy shows, tasty dining deals, and much more.

Bonuses, prize draws, tournaments and sweepstakes are waiting for patrons who love playing casino games. Check the following table for the details:

Bonus	What Gives
1 in 5 Swipestakes	You get one in five chances to win instant prizes daily.
Star Poker	Play cash games and tournaments every week.
Tiger Baccarat Cash Frenzy	The casino chooses a lucky table at random and rewards the players seated at the selected table with a cash prize of $100.
Star Tournaments	Participate in the weekly tournaments and win prizes
Halo Blackjack Tournament	Participate in the first and only electronic table game tournament in Australia.

History of Gambling in NSW

NSW gambling dates back to 1810. Australia held its first official horse race meet in Hyde Park, Sydney in 1810. The country also held its first official lottery game at the Sydney Cup in 1881. In 1956, registered clubs started operating Australia's first legal poker games in Sydney.

NSW is home to around 95,800 pokies, the second-highest in the world. The largest number of pokies are in Nevada, which operated 181,109 gaming machines in 2014.

In the year ending June 30, 2003, 1381 NSW clubs operated 75,214 poker games and reported a turnover of A$33.9 billion, including A$414 million in tax revenue and A$3 billion in profits. NSW has 1,830 hotels, which operate 24,255 gaming machines. The turnover is A$13.8 billion, and the profit is A$1.4 billion.

Star Sydney, the only casino in NSW, has 1500 electronic gambling machines and 200 table games. It contributes A$540 million in gross gaming revenue.

Guide for New Visitors to NSW Casinos

There is no shortage of places to play pokies in NSW. The top twenty sports clubs share 11,000+ pokie machines among them. You can play pokies in the best NSW hotels like the Cross Roads Hotel in Casula, the Royal Oak Hotel in Lidcombe, the Crown Hotel in Revesby, and the Markets Hotel in Flemington.

If you prefer clubs, we recommend the Mt Pritchard & District Community Club Limited in Mount Pritchard, the Bankstown Sports Club in Bankstown, and the Wentworthville Leagues Club.

Visit Blacktown, Inner West, Newcastle, Sydney, and Canterbury-Bankstown for pubs offering pokies. Places like Blacktown, Fairfield, Central Coast, Canterbury-Bankstown, and Cumberland are the best for clubs offering pokies.

The only place in NSW that offers a full-fledged casino experience is The Star Sydney. Crown Sydney has recently received a temporary casino license but has not yet launched its casino.

Here are a few tips for first-time visitors to The Star Sydney:

Visit the Website: Visit www.start.com.au/sydney to get an idea of what to expect at the casino. The official website of The Star Sydney is easy to navigate and packed with information about its features and services.

You can also interact with The Star employees on WeChat, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also download The Star App at the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

No Underage Gambling: You can enter the casino only if you provide a document proving that you are of the legal age to gamble.

Prohibitions: You cannot enter the casino if you have applied for self-exclusion. Once in the casino, you cannot take photos or videos and leave children unattended.

Dress Code: The Star Sydney does not permit the following:

• Disguises, face paints, or any attire that hides your face
• Clothing with sexually or culturally offensive images or slogans
• Singlets and sleeveless tops for men
• Soiled, torn, or ripped clothes (however, designer torn or ripped clothing is allowed)
• Dirty footwear or work wear
• Offensive tattoos
• Colors and clothes associated with criminal organizations

You can wear whatever you please to the casino, provided you follow these rules.

Learn the Rules: You will find game rules on the official website of The Star Sydney. Read these rules and play a few games for fun before visiting the casino. The best place to learn games risk-free is at online casinos.

Manage Your Bankroll: You need to plan your bankroll well and gamble only with money you can afford to lose. Stop playing when you have won or lost a certain amount. Avoid mixing alcohol with gambling because it impacts judgment and makes you prolong your gambling sessions unnecessarily.

Why People Choose Casinos in NSW

New South Wales attracts visitors to its national parks and coastal cities. Its capital Sydney has iconic structures such as the Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.

If you go inland, you can enjoy the beauty of the rainforests, the Blue Mountains, and outback towns that mine opal. While the coastline features long surfing beaches, the Hunter Valley region in northern NSW has several wineries.

When you are not playing casino games at The Star Sydney, you can enjoy the following activities:

• Go shopping or visit the restaurants and the tourist hotspots at Darling Harbor in Sydney.
• Relax and unwind in the Blue Mountains or try outdoor activities like rock climbing, hiking, and mountain biking.
• Go bird watching on Lord Howe Island.
• Explore the waterfalls and rainforest of Dorringo National Park.
• Dive, swim, or snorkel on Norfolk Island.

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