Crown vs The Star — Australia's Casino Duopoly Compared
Crown and The Star control Australia's metro casinos — but recent regulatory upheavals reshaped both. Here's where each property stands in 2026.
Australia's metro casinos are run by two operators. Crown Resorts (Blackstone-owned) operates Crown Melbourne, Crown Perth, Crown Sydney. The Star Entertainment Group runs The Star Sydney, Treasury Brisbane, The Star Gold Coast, Queen's Wharf Brisbane. Both came through bruising regulatory inquiries; both now operate under enhanced compliance regimes. Tables AU$25–50 mass; blackjack rules generally good (3:2, double after split).
If you've heard about Australian casinos in the last five years, you've heard about regulatory pain. Bergin (NSW), Finkelstein (Vic), Owen (Qld) — three royal-commission-equivalent inquiries forced sweeping changes at Crown and The Star.
Crown — the three properties
The Star — and its troubled stretch
Rules at the table
Australian blackjack is generally favorable: 3:2 payouts, double after split, late surrender at most properties, six- to eight-deck shoes. House edge ~0.5%.
Roulette is single-zero in most jurisdictions; Crown Perth still runs some American-style double-zero on a couple of tables — confirm before sitting.
Strong baccarat focus. Poker rooms exist at all flagship properties.
Compliance changes that affect players
Post-inquiries, expect:
- Cashless gaming phased in across NSW.
- Time and loss limits via player cards.
- No more junket play — both operators ended international junket arrangements.
- Stricter source-of-funds checks for high-stakes deposits.
For most leisure travelers, none of this is intrusive.
Which to pick
Sydney 2-3 nights: Crown Sydney for the hotel, The Star for the bigger casino floor.
Melbourne 3-5 nights: Crown Melbourne, no contest.
Perth long weekend: Crown Perth if casino is the main reason.
Brisbane / Gold Coast: Queen's Wharf Brisbane for the new flagship; Star Gold Coast for the beach-resort version.
Topics
- australia
- crown
- star