Casinos in Northern Territory

Legality of Casinos in the Northern Territory

The Gaming Machine Act and the Gaming Control Act, along with several related regulations, govern all gambling and gaming activities in the Northern Territory.

The following are the gambling laws in the Northern Territory:

• Gaming Control Act 1993
• Gaming Control (Community Gaming) Regulation 2006
• Gaming Control (Gaming Machines) Regulations 1995
• Gaming Control (Internet Gaming) Regulations 1998
• Gaming Control (Licensing) Regulations 1995
• Gaming Control (Reviewable Decisions) Regulations 2014
• Gaming Control (Taxes and Levies) Regulations 2015
• Gaming Machine Act 1995
• Gaming Machine Regulations 1995
• Gaming Machines Rules 2001

The following table provides information about gambling laws in the Northern Territory.

Northern Territory Minimum Gambling Age

The legal age for gambling in the Northern Territory is 18.

The Northern Territory's Public Health Emergency Declaration ceased at 11:59 p.m. on June 15, 2022. But residents have to follow Chief Health Officer (CHO) directions, including wearing face masks in high-risk settings.

The mask mandate no longer applies to guests at hotel casino resorts in the Northern Territory.

List of Land-based Casinos in the Northern Territory

Northern Territory is home to only two land-based casinos, the Mindil Beach Casino Resort in Darwin and the Lasseters Casino in Alice Springs. It is the third-biggest state in Australia but is sparsely populated, with most Territorians residing in Darwin.

Since mining and tourism are the main industries in the Northern Territory, it attracts tourists from different parts of the world. Most are interested in visiting the wildlife habitats and national parks along the NT coastline, and many end up visiting the land-based casinos for a good time.

Best Casinos in Northern Territory in 2023

Gamblers in the Northern Territory do not have much of a choice when it comes to land-based casinos. The state has two casinos with gaming machines, TAB & Keno, and table games. Texas Hold'em Poker is available at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.

Find out more about the two land casinos in the Northern Territory in the following sections:

Mindil Beach Casino Resort

The property sprawls over 30 acres of tropical gardens along the Arafura Sea. It offers outstanding dining and accommodation options, world-class event and conference facilities, and exciting entertainment and leisure choices. It is the home of the only five-star beachfront resort in Darwin, featuring a private white-sand beach and upgraded facilities, including stylish rooms, lagoon-style pools, WiFi, award-winning cocktails, and a fitness center.

Mindil Beach Casino Resort has an eventful history. Launched as Don Casino in 1979, it became the Mindil Beach Casino in 1983. Two years later, Mindil Beach Casino changed its name to Diamond Beach Hotel and Casino.

In 1995, MGM Grand acquired it and renamed it MGM Grand Darwin. In 2004, SkyCity Group acquired it and renamed it SkyCity Darwin.

In 2019, SkyCity Darwin became a part of the Delaware North portfolio of resort and gaming properties and changed its name to Mindil Beach Casino Resort.

Mindil Beach Casino Resort is home to the Lucky North Club, a five-tiered rewards program with several tier benefits. You can redeem tier points for dining, hotel stays, free play, and more.

Lasseters Hotel Casino

Lasseters is the center of entertainment in Alice Springs, featuring four bars, four restaurants, a poolside cafe, a sports theatre, a health club, a nightclub, TAB facilities, and a day spa. There is also a casino of international standards with the latest electronic games and table games.

The casino maintains international standards and keeps players entertained with several table games, including blackjack, American Roulette, slot machine games, and games with betting options ranging from 0.01 to 2.00. The casino opens at 9:00 a.m. and features luxurious seating, personalized services, and the Members Lounge.

Lasseters is not just for gamblers because it includes the Crowne Plaza, where you can have a relaxing stay. The hotel has 205 guest rooms and several amenities and facilities like the spa and sauna, a swimming pool, and a fitness center. You can enjoy fine dining facilities in Tali, Goat & Bucket, Tempo, Juicy Rump, Juicy Sports, and Casbah.

Stay at Crown Plaza Alice Springs Lasseters, enjoy playing casino games, and visit the most beautiful places in Central Australia.

Northern Territory Casinos with Bonuses

Something is always happening at the hotel casino properties of the Northern Territory. You can always enjoy casino offers, tickets to concerts, events and entertainment options, resort offers, hotel offers, bar & restaurant offers, and lagoon day spa offers at Mindil Beach Casino Resort and Lasseters Hotel Casino.

The official website of Mindil Beach Casino Resort prompts you to choose a date and event type and click on Filter to find the latest events. For example, if you select today's date (June 22) and click on casino offers, you will learn that you can win one of 40 prizes of free play worth $25, provided you are a Lucky North Club member above 50. If you play an NT Keno game worth $20, you can redeem free play worth $20, provided you are a Lucky North Club member.

Lasseters Casino allows you to filter promos & events according to categories like featured offers, casino offers, day spa offers, dining & bars, entertainment, rewards, and hotel.

The following table provides an overview of the bonuses in the Northern Territory.

History of Gambling in the Northern Territory

The history of gambling in the Northern Territory is shrouded in mystery. But one of the milestones in NT gambling history is the scrapping of the NT Licensing Commission in 2015 in favor of a new licensing authority. The government retained the licensing considerations and application criteria.

Here are some of the advantages of scrapping the NT Licensing Commission:

• The Director-General of Licensing processes licensing applications in the Northern Territory.
• A hearing is no longer required, reducing the cost to business considerably.
• The NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal reviews the decisions of the licensing authority.

Guide for New Visitors to Northern Territory Casinos

Would you like to visit one of the two land-based casinos in the Northern Territory? Read the following guide before doing so:

• Visit the Casino Website: Before visiting a land casino, you need to know about its timings, dress code, rules and regulations, restricted activities, and so on.  Visiting the official website of the land casino gives you an idea of what to expect. The casino website also provides detailed instructions on how to reach the casino, parking facilities, and so on.
• Plan Your Budget: Bankrolls deplete in no time at land casinos. Plan your budget before entering the gaming area, and play only with money you can afford to lose. Stop playing when you have won or lost a pre-determined amount. Above all, avoid mixing drinking with gambling because it impacts judgment and makes you play more than planned.  
• Learn the Game Before Playing for Real Money: Before visiting the land-based casino, find out what games it offers. You will find this information on the casino website. You can learn games for free by playing their demo versions at online casinos. If you have any doubts, you can also ask the croupiers to familiarize you with the game rules before you play. Some casinos also offer free lessons on playing games.
• Casino Etiquette: What should you wear to the casino? Should you tip waitresses and live croupiers who serve you there? Do you have to pay for drinks, or are they complimentary? Is the parking free or paid? You have to find answers to all these questions before visiting a casino.

If possible, visit the casino with a friend who has already visited it once. Or study the casino website thoroughly for the required information.

• Legal Age for Gambling: No casino will let you in if you are too young to gamble. You have to provide age and identity proof before entering the casino. The legal gambling age for a Territorian is 18.

Why People Choose Casinos in Northern Territory

People flock to the Northern Territory to savor its natural beauty. There is no place like the Northern Territory because of its cascading waterfalls, red desert plains, beautiful beaches, and towering gorges. It is a great place to rest, relax, and unwind.

The Northern Territory has more to offer outdoor enthusiasts than gamblers. But NT's two casinos make it possible for visitors to combine outdoor activities with relaxing hotel stays and a bit of gambling.

Here are a few reasons why Australians visit the Northern Territory:

• You can visit the Uluru, a 348-meter sandstone monolith formed over 500 million years back. 
• Interact with 280 species of crocodiles and birds in the Kakadu National Park.
• Choose from 30+ hiking trails and walking tracks, the most popular of which is the Bardedjilidji Walk.
• Visit the majestic King's Canyon in the Watarrka National Park.
• Enjoy nature walks and swimming sports in the Litchfield National Park.

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