Gambling is one of the most popular pastimes in Australia for both locals and tourists alike – it may surprise you to hear that iconic attractions like the Sydney Opera House, Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef don’t even come close to touching the number of tourists that the country’s top casinos do!

And maybe this is because Australian casino tax is paid by the casino (as opposed to the setup in America where customers pay tax out of their winnings), or because Casino’s here offer much more than places to go and enjoy games of chance.

Many properties are entertainment complexes in their own right, and offer fully integrated resorts, great restaurants, bars and some of the best luxury accommodation in the country.

The best for gambling in Australia, then? If you’re asking this question you’ve hit your first win. There are 8 states and territories with gambling facilities in Australia which have 20 legal gambling facilities available in total, though we’ve cut this down with the following list.

The Best Casinos in Australia

Many Australian Casinos are currently closed, and supporters of the online gaming industry speculate that the pandemic will be the final blow to traditional gaming.

Very limited flights are currently available to and from Australia (as well as domestically within), and you may not be able to travel at this time. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated that international travel will be off the cards until sometime in 2021.

If you find yourself needing a virtual vacation, onlinecasinoaustralia.io is a guide to the best online casinos in Australia. But if you’re lucky enough to be landing in the country, these are the best land based casinos.

The Star Casino

Those visiting Australia usually start their trip in Sydney. And Star City Casino is one of Sydney’s main attractions.

One of the best casinos in Australia, it’s very easy to find yourself lost amidst the huge gaming floor, and light dazzle from almost every game imaginable. The gaming floors are open to all players, and there are both high and low stake games on offer, as well as VIP tables for the high rollers.

In a fabulous location on Darling Harbour, a stay in the five star boutique lifestyle hotel puts you right in the center of Sydney. There are award winning restaurants onsite, as well as an acclaimed nightclub and events center, a 16 room day spa and a luxury retail collection.

Casino Canberra

For those visiting Australia’s capitol, Canberra offers one of the most stylish places to gamble. Casino Canberra, in the middle of the city, is a large high class casino that caters to high rolling politicians and low rolling players.

Their onsite restaurant is one of the best in the city, though it’s a good idea to make a reservation as tables book up quickly.

Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex

Beating out the likes of Uluru, Crown Casino in Melbourne is Australia’s number one tourist attraction, welcoming 10.9 million visitors per year.

This is the largest and most successful entertainment complex in the Southern Hemisphere, and in fact one of the largest in the world.

Above the pokies for which is is famous, and a huge selection of games, there are three hotels within the complex (Crown Towers Melbourne, Crown Metropol and the Crown Promenade), as well as two restaurants by world famous Chef Gordon Ramsay, and a wide range of entertainment.

Treasury Casino & Hotel

One of Brisbane’s greatest draws, Treasury Casino & Hotel offers a 5-star heritage hotel, 6 restaurants, 5 bars, and the non-stop excitement of the city’s only casino. In terms of the casino there are over 1300 poker machines and a variety of table games across 80 tables.

$57 million has been recently spent on repurposing, restoring and maintaining the property’s historic assets, and the $5.6 million spent on stonework preservation won the Queensland Heritage Council Gold Award in both 2008 & 2014.

Jupiter’s Hotel and Casino

Another popular Queensland Casino, 10 million + flock to Jupiter’s Hotel and Casino each year, and with reasonably priced accommodation it’s an affordable destination to visit and stay.

This is the best in Gold Coast entertainment, dining and bars, and is just a short stroll from the stunning beaches for which Australia is well known. Jupiters Townsville is another QLD casino, perfectly suited for those looking to combine their love of gaming with a lush tropical setting, wonderful beaches and with the ability to spend their winnings on a quick flight to the islands of The Great Barrier Reef.

Adelaide Casino

If you’re hitting up South Australia, Adeline Casino is the place to be. This is a sprawling casino with hundreds of Pokies. Machines are continually being updated to host the latest game releases, and you’ll rarely find yourself bored or waiting for a machine.

Wrest Point Casino Tasmania

A historical landmark, Wrest Point in Hobart, Tasmania was Australia’s first legal casino to open.

Sitting on the spectacular Derwent River, it is Australia’s longest operating Casino, celebrating over forty years since opening it’s doors on February 10, 1973.

Country Club Casino

Another Tasmanian Casino, and the sister property of Wrest Point, this is one of the most laid back land based casinos you can choose to visit in Australia. There is accommodation, dining, entertainment, conference centers, and golf, and the historic Launceston casino was Tasmania’s second to open, and Australia’s third.

It offers guests a boutique experience spread across two separate gaming floors. Keep in mind that during holiday periods and weekends the casino is often crowded, especially as Tasmania has been largely COVID free and venues have been running relatively as normal.

If you want to avoid the large crowds, online gaming is an option and you can always visit the online casino Australia real money to enjoy your favourite casino games before heading back at a more calmer time. Online experiences allow all the normal games including poker, blackjack, electronic machines, sports betting, keno, and much more.

Crown Perth

Crown Perth is Western Australia’s leading casino venue, and you will be greeted with a huge selection of Pokie machines as well as plenty of table and card games to choose from.

Crown Perth is known as a city within a city. With two hotels, 30 restaurants and bars, a popular nightclub, the 24/7 casino, two concert halls, and a range of additional facilities such as a luxury day spa, retail outlets, resort-style pools, an eighteen hole golf course – you don’t find many venues which come bigger than this. The Casino is located on the banks of the Swan River, and the amazing facilities extend to cycling trails along the river.

Sky City Darwin

A popular beach-side resort and entertainment venue, Sky City is an absolute must for those visiting Darwin. Situated right on Mindil Beach, visitors have access to five star accommodation, conference halls, and the usual award winning restaurants and bars.

During peak periods however the casino becomes quite full, so consider visiting during a quieter time of the day if not in favor of queuing up to play your favorite casino games!

Whether you’re gambling in land based casinos or in online casinos, we urge you to ensure you gamble responsibly. 

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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

Follow their journey on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

Photo credits: Star Sydney by llee_wu. Crown Melbourne by Paolo Rosa. Jupiters by Jason Thien.