Land Based Casinos & Pokies in Australia

Written by Jack Wilson Last updated: 23/04/2024

Aussies love a punt! And there are plenty of top-quality land based casinos in Australia to choose from, along with some excellent pokie parlours.

From the bustling streets of Sydney and the cultural hub of Melbourne to the capital of Canberra and the tropical paradise of Cairns, Australians have plenty of options for indulging in their favourite pastime.

We’ll give you the rundown on some of the top casinos in the country, as well as some of the best pokies parlours in Australia’s major cities. We’ll highlight the venue details, game offerings and dress codes to ensure you can enjoy everything they offer.

Let’s take a look.

Casinos in Australia

In Australia, there are 14 casinos in 8 states, most in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and New South Wales.

Tabcorp Holdings, Skycity Entertainment Group, Lasseters Hotel Casino and Federal Hotels are behind the 14 major casinos in the country.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular land-based casinos in Australia in more detail.

Casinos and Pokies in Sydney

Sydney and New South Wales, in general, are known for their huge array of gambling options, with pokies being a significant draw.

In NSW alone (the first state to introduce pokie machines), there are almost 100,000 pokie machinesAustralian Financial Review - Australia’s pokies addiction explained in four charts
https://www.afr.com/companies/games-and-wagering/what-will-happen-if-pokies-go-cashless-20221212-p5c5os #. That’s about one machine for every 81 people!

Sydney Casinos

Here are the major casinos in Sydney to visit next time you’re in town.

The Star

This is the largest casino in NSW, offering 1,500 pokies and a wide range of table games. It’s owned by Star Entertainment Group which owns various casinos throughout Australia. There’s plenty of restaurants on site and four premium hotels to choose from if you’re looking to stay the night.

Dress code: Smart casual – no sportswear or ripped clothing.

Crown Sydney

This newer casino is part of The Crown Casino network and is about luxury. It’s been built as a VIP-only facility, so there’s no pokies at this casino. Instead you’ll find high quality table games that come with a minimum bet of $20. Like The Star, there are plenty of top-rated restaurants, a luxurious hotel and shopping.

Dress code: Strict – if you’re not dressed smartly, don’t expect entry.

City Tattersalls Club

This well-established club has been around since 1895, when some Aussie bookmakers founded it. With a square footage of around 4,200 and approximately 400 pokie machines, various table games, and Keno available, it’s a popular choice for many Sydneysiders.

Dress code: Clean, neat and tidy. No ripped clothing, bare feet or rubber thongs.

Popular Sydney Pokies Parlours

Sydney is full of small bars, hotels, and parlours that offer various pokies. Here are our top picks.

• Club Totem: Combines a range of sports viewing from football and rugby to NFL (on a large screen) with gambling, featuring modern pokies machines.
• Dove & Olive: This award-winning venue is known for its extensive craft beer selection and discreet pokies room.
• Scruffy Murphy’s: An Irish-themed pub with live music and a casual atmosphere for pokies enthusiasts.
• Cambridge Tavern: This place offers a warm and friendly atmosphere, a huge TAB area for sports and racing, pool tables, and a great selection of pokies.

Melbourne Pokies and Casinos

Melbourne is full of art galleries, pubs, clubs and sporting arenas. But when it comes to gambling, the use and regulation of pokies in Melbourne is quite strict.

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission has capped the amount of pokie machines in the state at 30,000, with 2,628 of those allocated to Crown CasinoVGCCC - Caps and limits
https://www.vgccc.vic.gov.au/gambling/gaming-venue-operator/understand-your-gaming-licence/caps-and-limits#:~:text=State%20gaming%20machine%20cap,the%20other%20half%20to%20hotels. #.

Melbourne Casinos

There’s only one major casino in Melbourne. And it’s famous throughout Australia – Crown Melbourne!

This immense establishment offers pokies and extensive table game options. It is also a major hub for competitive poker tournaments and hosts various events annually, such as the Aussie Millions and World Series.

It also boasts plenty of entertainment options, including a 1500-capacity ballroom, multiple nightclubs, a games arcade, and a multilane bowling alley. There are also plenty of luxury shopping options.

Top Melbourne Pokies Locations

Aside from the large Crown Casino, you will find pokies lounges all over Melbourne and Victoria. Most are found within a sports bar or hotel. Check out our top picks in Melbourne.

• Bourke’s Hill Welcome Stranger: Smack bang in the Melbourne CBD, this hotel offers polenta of pokies, a kiosk for placing TAB bets and five large screens to watch the latest sporting events.
• Batman’s Hill on Collins: Offers a wide range of pokies in a central city location.
• Golden Nugget: Features sports betting facilities alongside a broad array of pokies. You can also play Keno and watch various sports on a huge TV screen, including ESPN.
• Celtic Club: With multiple bars, large screens, and plenty of pokies, this popular Irish bar offers a great night out.

Canberra Pokie Venues and Casinos

Nearly 90% of the entire gambling income for the ACT comes exclusively from pokies.

Unlike some other states, the ACT has typically had quite a lax stance on gambling, including pokies. But it has set a target to reduce the number of poker machines to 3,500 by 2025, with many experts calling for a long-term divestment plan away from pokies for clubs and pubsCanberra Daily - Stakeholders call for club and poker machine reforms in ACT
https://canberradaily.com.au/stakeholders-call-for-club-and-poker-machine-reforms-in-act/ #.

Casinos in Canberra

Casino Canberra is the only casino in the state, and it’s much smaller than some of the more well-known casinos, like Crown and The Star. Because of its reduced size, it doesn’t have the scale of other amenities and entertainment on offer.

It offers exclusive table games but it doesn’t have a licence to house pokies machine.

Top Pokies Venues in Canberra

Because of the lack of pokies in the main casino, you can find pokies in a plethora of pubs and clubs throughout Canberra. Here are some of our favourites:

• Belconnen Labour Club: Provides a variety of pokies and some great dining options.
• Southern Cross Club: With an affordable restaurant and indoor playground for kids, you can enjoy a spin on the numerous pokie machines.
• Raiders Gungahlin: With over 300 pokies, there’s plenty to keep you entertained at this venue, including a great restaurant, bar, cafe and kids activities.
• The Tradies: This Canberra institution is known for its vast selection of pokies and is consistently rated as a top venue with Canberra punters.

Cairns Casinos and Pokie Venues

Ideally located in tropical north Queensland, Cairns is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia and is on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef. But it’s not all about nature; the city is a popular place to enjoy some of Australia’s finest gambling.

Cairns Casinos

The Reef Hotel, also known as the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino, is the only major casino in Cairns. It was built in 1996 and is owned by two major casino companies – Casinos Austria International Ltd and Accor Casino Investments Ltd.

In addition to a huge selection of traditional table games, there are over 500 pokies. Plus, if you’re a Keno fan, there’s a specially designed Keno area and a TAB mega wall for sports betting fans.

There’s also nightly entertainment in the Paramour Cabaret Theatre, a Wildlife Dome on the room, and a spa with various therapies.

Pokies Parlours In Cairns

Cairns has a couple of places outside the Reef Casino where you can play pokies for real money. Based on our experience, here are our top recommendations:

• Dunwoody’s Tavern: This iconic hotel boasts a restaurant and bar. With great food and drinks, it’s great for all ages. You can place a bet on the horses or spin the reels at a decent selection of pokie machines.
• Brothers Leagues Club: This venue boasts everything from games of poker, Keno and Bingo games, a dedicated TAB kiosk, sports betting and, of course, pokie machines.
• Cairns RSL Club: Open from 7 a.m., this club offers a great selection of around 50 pokies, including some awesome progressive games where you can win big.
• Cazayls: This huge social club offers a one-of-a-kind location with a heap of quality pokies. Best of all? They’re open until 2 am most days!

Brisbane

In recent years, Brisbane has soared in popularity with tourists and people moving from interstate. Last year, 7.4 million people visited, up 47% from the previous yearChoose Brisbane - Brisbane Tourism Surges
https://choose.brisbane.qld.au/news/brisbane-tourism-march-2023 #, fuelling the demand for a large gambling industry.

Brisbane Casinos

The Treasury is currently the only casino in Brisbane, although a new casino is currently being built and is expected to open in August 2024, which will replace The Treasury.

When completed, The Star Casino will become the biggest leisure complex in Brisbane, nestled at the heart of the multi-billion-dollar Queen’s Wharf precinct.

For now, though, visitors to The Treasury can still enjoy the stunning building, which features old-world style and class and is open 24 hours a day. There’s live entertainment, a varied game selection, and over 1,400 pokie machines to play.

Pokies Parlours In Brisbane

Whilst the bulk of pokies are found in the main casino in Brisbane, many Leagues Clubs and other sporting venues house hundreds of pokies – all dotted in and around Brisbane. Here are our top picks:

• Runcorn Tavern: Choose from 45 pokie machines in a dedicated gaming area, which also offers free coffee and a specialist snack bar.
• Irish Murphy’s: This traditional Irish pub in the CBD boasts a range of fun pokies on site.
• Cleveland Tavern: On the outskirts of Brisbane, this tavern offers a welcoming atmosphere, a great bistro, and a gaming zone with a range of pokies to suit all tastes and budgets.
• Zillmere Sports Bar: This modern venue isn’t just a great sports bar but a hub for pokies lovers. It has a relaxed dress code, multiple TV screens, and great food and drinks on offer.

Adelaide

Gambling is big business in South Australia. In 2021-22, it generated taxation revenue of $531 million for the SA Government and was forecast to growSA Auditor General - Gambling harm minimisation
https://www.audit.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/Report%203%20of%202023%20-%20Gambling%20harm%20minimisation_0.pdf #. Pokies, casino games and sports betting are all popular forms of entertainment, and there are plenty of places to play throughout the state.

Adelaide Casinos

Sky City Casino is the only casino in Adelaide. It offers a wide selection of electronic gaming machines and pokies, and table games are also plentiful.

The complex features a spa area with indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, a steam room, and massage therapies. You’ll also be treated to a choice of two bars, which have some of the most extensive ranges of spirits and mixers in town, as well as signature cocktails and imported beers.

Best Pokies Bars in Adelaide

While many pokies are found in Sky City Casino, thousands more are scattered across the state and in pubs and clubs in the city suburbs.

Take a look at our top selection in Adelaide:

• West End Tavern: Open until late, this tavern offers a laid-back, friendly environment focusing on casual gaming experiences.
• The London Tavern: This friendly tavern offers a dedicated games room and the usual pub grub. You can also sign up for their rewards club to access some great discounts.
• Rosemount Hotel & Pokies: This hotel and sports bar is open round the clock with six huge screens and 40 smaller ones for sports lovers! There are pokies galore, TAB, Keno and lotto available.
• Pulteney Pokies: This casino provides a dedicated pokies area within a relaxed bar atmosphere. There’s also a great lounge and bar zone available.

Land-Based Casinos vs Online Casinos?

While both have pros and cons, here are the major differences between the two so you can decide what’s best for your gambling experience.

Conclusion

Each city in Australia has its unique gambling culture. Big casinos typically enforce a smart casual dress code, while pokies parlours often have more relaxed guidelines. Make sure you’re dressed neatly (no torn clothes or bare feet), and you should be fine! But check before to be safe.

If you want more choices and convenience, check out some online casinos we recommend. Giving you access to a huge range of online pokies and tables games from the comfort of your own home.

Enjoy!

Jack Wilson

Casino Expert

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