The Star, Sydney

The Star Sydney
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Gambling, Hospitality, Entertainment
Predecessor	Star City Casino, Sydney Harbour Casino
Founded	1995
Founder	Partnership between Leighton Properties and Showboat
Headquarters	Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia
Area served	New South Wales, Australia
Key people	Larry Mullin (CEO of Echo Entertainment Group at time of redevelopment)
Products	Casino gaming, Hotel accommodation, Restaurants, Bars, Theatres, Event venues
Owner	Star Entertainment Group (subsidiary of Bally's Corporation)
Parent	Star Entertainment Group
Website	www.star.com.au/sydney

The Star Sydney—previously known as Star City Casino and Sydney Harbour Casino—is situated in Pyrmont, Sydney, ranking as Australia's second-largest casino after Melbourne's Crown Casino. Positioned with views over Darling Harbour, The Star, which is owned by Star Entertainment Group, comprises two gaming levels, a single bar, three dining establishments, 351 hotel rooms, and 130 serviced and private apartments. The venue also houses the 2,000-seat Sydney Lyric theatre, the 360-seat Foundry Theatre, and a 3,000-seat Event Centre, designed by the Montreal-based design firm Scéno Plus. Its gaming operations are overseen by the New South Wales Casino Control Authority, which holds exclusive rights to operate casinos legally within NSW. In 2007, the casino’s licence and exclusivity were extended for an additional 12 years.

In December 1994, a partnership between Leighton Properties and Showboat was awarded the inaugural casino licence for New South Wales. A temporary casino commenced operations on 13 September 1995 at the former wharves 12/13 location. The permanent facility, created through collaboration between Sydney architect Philip Cox and American architect Hillier, opened its doors on 27 November 1997 and represented one of the largest construction undertakings in Australia at that time. Presently, ownership rests with Star Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of Bally's Corporation.

On 29 January 2025, facing financial difficulties, The Star revealed intentions to divest the Event Centre Complex along with additional spaces to Foundation Theatres for $60 million. The casino remains subject to government regulation until September 2025 as part of ongoing supervisory measures.

Gaming

The casino features two distinct gaming areas: the primary floor located on level one and the exclusive Sovereign Room on level three. The Sovereign Room caters to high-stakes gamblers with table bets ranging from $25 up to $75,000, including the Inner Sanctum, where wagers span from $100 to $500,000. Access to these premium sections is granted through membership application and approval by management, primarily serving international patrons and high rollers. Junket operations resumed at Star City in 2005 after significant financial setbacks experienced in 2002.

Recent refurbishments have expanded the main gaming floor by incorporating the Oasis Lounge and 36 Degrees Bar; however, the overall count of gaming tables and machines has remained consistent. This main floor is segmented into Table Games, Electronic Gaming, and Poker zones, with poker tables steadily increasing to a total of 40.

Enhancements to the Sovereign Room included the addition of four private gaming chambers alongside dining and lounge amenities at an estimated investment of $7 million. Positioned above this area is a newly introduced ultra-exclusive Chairmans Lounge accessible strictly by invitation; currently fewer than 500 Diamond Card Members meet the criteria for entry. Furthermore, a sports bar has recently been launched within the complex.

Table games

The Star provides a variety of classic casino games such as Mini Baccarat, Blackjack, Caribbean Stud, Craps, Pai Gow, Poker, Pontoon, Roulette, Rapid (semi-electronic) Roulette, Sic Bo, and Three card poker.

The traditional game of Two-Up was discontinued in October 2003 due to insufficient profitability; its staffing demands conflicted with Tabcorp’s objectives for cost reduction and increased earnings.

In December 2005, Double-Chance was introduced on a trial basis but was swiftly withdrawn because its high house edge discouraged player participation.

At the close of 2006, three card baccarat was launched amid floor adjustments made to accommodate a smoking ban and planned expansions but was soon removed owing to limited player interest.

Electronic gaming

The Star features a collection of more than 1,490 electronic gaming devices, which include slot machines, bingo, rapid roulette, and video poker. Introduced in 2006, Rapid Big Wheel replaced the slower table game version temporarily but was discontinued in 2007 when the original table game was reinstated. The casino's electronic gaming machines are limited to a maximum of 1,500 units.

Security

Surveillance cameras continuously oversee the gaming areas to record all activity, assist in resolving disputes, identify cheating attempts, and aid legal investigations. After fraudulent chips were discovered, the $500 denomination chips were withdrawn due to their insufficient security features that allowed some counterfeit chips to circulate.

Restaurants and bars

The Star presents a wide variety of dining experiences, including multiple five-star establishments. While some restaurants are operated directly by The Star, others function independently. The Harvest Buffet is especially recognized for its all-you-can-eat selections, with the weekend seafood buffet being a particular highlight.

Within the complex, there are eight bars in operation, alongside two other venues licensed as bars and two external locations serving alcohol. Access to bars located within the gaming zones is restricted to adults only. Several venues provide live entertainment predominantly on weekends. Both the Lagoon Bar and Glo Bar ceased operations in 2009 during renovation efforts.

Marquee

To broaden its nightlife offerings, The Star inaugurated the Marquee nightclub on 31 March 2012, adding a new dimension to its entertainment options.

Redevelopment

In 2009, Tabcorp, then-owner of the property, initiated a A$475 million refurbishment and expansion project known as Project Star. This redevelopment shifted the casino's focus toward Sydney Harbour by creating a new iconic entrance and harbour-side drop-off area. Construction commenced late in 2009 and concluded by late 2012. According to Echo Entertainment Group CEO Larry Mullin, total expenses reached approximately A$961 million. The venue reopened under the name "The Star" on 16 September 2011.

Popular culture

The Star has served as a venue for prominent events such as the annual film and television AACTA Awards. The first twelve episodes of the Australian television series Joker Poker (2005–2006) were filmed in a private gaming room at The Star, featuring its professional croupiers; however, the series did not achieve success. Additionally, several episodes of Beauty and the Geek Australia were produced at the casino. The now-defunct Ralph magazine hosted its swimsuit model competition at Turbines Health Club, catering to hotel and apartment guests.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Australian comedians Alex Apollonov and Aleksa Vulović collaborated with The Chaser to evaluate The Star casino’s COVID-19 safety measures by attempting entry while exhibiting multiple symptoms. In one incident, Aleksa entered dressed in hospital scrubs while dragging an IV drip and claiming to have just left a hospital; despite this, he was permitted inside to use gaming machines. Staff initially only inquired about his membership status. Apollonov subsequently simulated a fever of 48 degrees measured by a temperature gun but was still granted access. Their experiment exposed weaknesses in the casino’s health screening protocols during the pandemic.

External links

NSW Casino Control Authority