Australia operates a regulated casino industry with licensed venues across all states and territories. This guide provides accurate data on casino numbers, locations, and the broader gambling environment.
Australia has a well-established casino industry that operates under strict state and territory regulations. Understanding the exact number of casinos and their distribution provides insight into the country's gambling landscape and regulatory approach. This comprehensive guide examines casino numbers, locations, and the broader context of gambling venues across Australia.
The casino industry in Australia represents a significant component of the entertainment and hospitality sectors. Unlike the thousands of hotels, pubs, and clubs that offer electronic gaming machines, casinos are limited-license venues that provide a full range of gambling activities including table games, poker machines, and other gaming options. The controlled number of casino licenses reflects a regulatory strategy that balances commercial interests with responsible gambling considerations.
According to the 2010 Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Gambling, Australia had 13 casinos operating at that time, with additional venues in the planning stages. This number has remained relatively stable due to the restrictive licensing approach adopted by most jurisdictions, though some new casinos have opened in recent years while maintaining the overall controlled environment.
Australia currently operates 13 licensed casinos distributed across its states and territories. This figure represents dedicated casino venues that hold full gaming licenses, distinguishing them from the approximately 6,807 hotels, pubs, and clubs that offer gaming machines but not the comprehensive casino experience including table games.
The limited number of casinos reflects deliberate regulatory policy. Most Australian jurisdictions restrict casino licenses to one or two venues per state or territory, creating exclusive operating environments. This approach differs significantly from jurisdictions like Nevada in the United States, which operates over 180,000 gaming machines across numerous casino venues.
The 13 casinos vary considerably in size, offerings, and market positioning. Major metropolitan casinos in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth operate large-scale integrated resorts with thousands of gaming machines and extensive table game offerings, while regional casinos in locations like Alice Springs and Launceston serve smaller markets with more modest facilities.
The distribution of casinos across Australia reflects population centers, tourism patterns, and individual state regulatory philosophies. Each jurisdiction has developed its own approach to casino licensing and regulation.
New South Wales operates two major casinos in Sydney. The Star Sydney has been a landmark entertainment venue for decades, while Crown Sydney represents a newer addition to the market, opening in recent years as a luxury integrated resort. Both casinos serve the large Sydney metropolitan market and attract significant interstate and international visitation.
Victoria maintains a single-casino policy with Crown Melbourne holding the exclusive license. Crown Melbourne is one of the largest casino complexes in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring extensive gaming floors, entertainment venues, hotels, and dining options. The exclusive license model has created a major entertainment destination that contributes significantly to Victoria's tourism economy.
Queensland operates four casinos distributed across key tourism and population centers. The Star Brisbane serves the state capital, while The Star Gold Coast caters to the major tourism destination on the Gold Coast. Regional casinos include The Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns and The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville, serving northern Queensland markets.
Western Australia follows a single-casino model with Crown Perth, formerly known as Burswood Casino, holding the exclusive license for the state. Located in Perth, the venue serves the entire Western Australian market and operates as a major entertainment and hospitality complex.
Each Australian state and territory maintains independent gambling regulation, issuing casino licenses through their respective gaming authorities. This decentralized approach means casino numbers and regulations vary by jurisdiction, with some states limiting casino licenses to maintain exclusivity.
Casino operators must meet strict licensing requirements including financial stability, responsible gambling measures, and community benefit obligations. The licensing process involves comprehensive background checks, operational audits, and ongoing compliance monitoring to ensure industry integrity.
South Australia operates Adelaide Casino, formerly known as Skycity Adelaide, as its sole licensed casino. The venue is located in the Adelaide Railway Station building, providing a unique heritage setting for casino operations while serving the South Australian market.
Tasmania operates two casinos despite its smaller population. Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Hobart was Australia's first legal casino when it opened in 1973, while Country Club Casino serves the Launceston region in northern Tasmania. The two-casino model reflects Tasmania's tourism focus and geographic distribution.
The Northern Territory operates two casinos serving its dispersed population and tourism markets. Mindil Beach Casino, formerly Skycity Casino, operates in Darwin, while Lasseters Hotel Casino serves Alice Springs and the central Australian tourism market.
The Australian Capital Territory operates Casino Canberra, which serves the national capital. Notably, Casino Canberra is not licensed to provide electronic gaming machines, making it unique among Australian casinos by offering only table games and other non-EGM gambling options.
While Australia has only 13 casinos, the broader gambling environment is extensive. The country has approximately 197,122 electronic gaming machines distributed across casinos, clubs, hotels, and pubs, representing 2.50% of the world's legally installed machines. This gives Australia the sixth-highest number of gambling machines globally.
Beyond casinos and gaming machine venues, Australia's gambling infrastructure includes at least 4,700 lottery outlets, approximately 2,800 TAB retail outlets for racing and sports betting, and approximately 3,600 Keno outlets across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. This extensive network contributes to Australia having the highest rate of gambling participation globally, with over 80% of adults engaging in some form of gambling.
New South Wales alone operates approximately 95,800 poker machines, a state total exceeded only by Nevada. The concentration of gaming machines in clubs and hotels rather than exclusively in casinos represents a distinctive feature of Australian gambling regulation, particularly compared to many international jurisdictions where gaming machines are restricted to casino venues.
The extensive gambling infrastructure, including the 13 casinos and thousands of other venues, supports high participation rates. Approximately 600,000 Australians play poker machines at least weekly, representing 4% of the adult population. Research indicates that around 15% of regular players experience problem gambling, with their spending estimated to represent approximately 40% of total gaming machine expenditure.
In the 2015-2016 financial year, Australians lost approximately 24 billion dollars to gambling, more per capita than any other nation, with poker machines contributing the largest share of these losses. The accessibility of gambling through numerous venues, combined with the technology and design of modern gaming machines, creates an environment where gambling-related harm affects an estimated 80,000 to 160,000 Australian adults significantly, with a further 250,000 to 350,000 experiencing moderate risks.
While Australia currently operates 13 casinos, additional venues have been planned or proposed in various jurisdictions. However, the restrictive licensing approach means new casino approvals remain relatively rare. When new licenses are granted, they typically involve significant investment commitments, integrated resort developments, and extensive regulatory scrutiny.
The trend in recent casino development has favored large-scale integrated resorts that combine gaming with hotels, entertainment, dining, and convention facilities. This model aims to attract tourism, create employment, and generate broader economic benefits beyond gaming revenue alone.
Australia operates 13 licensed casinos distributed across all states and territories, reflecting a controlled regulatory approach that limits casino licenses while permitting extensive gaming machine access through clubs and hotels. This model creates a unique gambling environment where dedicated casino venues remain limited, but overall gambling accessibility ranks among the highest globally.
The distribution of casinos reflects population centers and tourism markets, with major metropolitan areas like Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth operating large integrated resorts, while regional locations serve smaller markets. Understanding the number and distribution of casinos provides essential context for comprehending Australia's broader gambling landscape and the regulatory frameworks that shape it.
Australia currently operates 13 licensed casinos distributed across all states and territories. This number has remained relatively stable due to restrictive licensing policies that limit casino approvals in most jurisdictions.
Queensland has the most casinos with four venues: The Star Brisbane, The Star Gold Coast, The Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns, and The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville. This reflects Queensland's multiple major population and tourism centers.
While additional casinos have been proposed in various jurisdictions, new approvals remain rare due to restrictive licensing policies. Most states maintain exclusive or limited license models that restrict the number of casino venues.
Australia has only 13 casinos but approximately 6,807 hotels, pubs, and clubs offering gaming machines. This creates a unique environment where gaming machine access is widespread, but full casino experiences with table games remain limited to dedicated licensed venues.
Crown Melbourne is one of the largest casino complexes in the Southern Hemisphere, operating as an integrated resort with extensive gaming floors, hotels, entertainment venues, and dining options under Victoria's exclusive casino license.
Yes, every Australian state and territory operates at least one licensed casino. The Australian Capital Territory and several states operate single casinos, while Queensland, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory each operate two or more venues.
Recognized operators in Australia's regulated casino industry
Australia's largest casinos operate as integrated resorts in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, combining gaming with luxury hotels, entertainment, and dining experiences.
Regional casinos in locations like Cairns, Townsville, Alice Springs, and Launceston serve local markets and tourism destinations with tailored gaming and hospitality offerings.
Multiple states are conducting comprehensive reviews of casino licensing frameworks to enhance responsible gambling measures and compliance standards.
Several jurisdictions are evaluating proposals for new integrated resort developments that would combine casino gaming with tourism infrastructure.
National standards for gaming machine technology have been updated to include enhanced player protection features and responsible gambling tools.