The Star, Sydney

Even for those who identify as LGBTQI+, we can still be allies for others within the community. Alarming laws and legislation have been passed in other countries that can significantly impact people’s lives. As a business, The Star is ahead of many in our industry in terms of diversity and inclusion, but there’s still a lot to do. The Trans and gender-diverse communities are starting to feel vulnerable, so let’s continue to work on making The Star a safe and inclusive place for everyone, esp., for trans and gender-diverse team members.
A major expansion and rebranding in 2011 transformed the site into The Star Sydney, now home to luxury hotels, gaming floors, theatres, and a celebrated dining scene. The Star Sydney is a world-class integrated resort encompassing a casino, luxury hotels, acclaimed dining venues, retail outlets, and live entertainment spaces. Since its inception, it has established itself as a cornerstone of Sydney’s nightlife and a magnet for both domestic and international tourists. This guide presents comprehensive visitor information, including opening hours, ticketing, accessibility, accommodation, dining, entertainment, tours, and nearby attractions.
In late 2022, the Queensland Government also found Star unsuitable to hold its dual state casino licences. Former Court of Appeal Judge Robert Gotterson conducted an independent review of the matter. Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman found Star misled regulators and failed in its anti-money laundering duties. The company has been served a statement of claim for a securities class action in the Supreme Court of Victoria. The class action alleges that Star breached disclosure obligations and acted against the best free slots 2026 interests of the shareholders.
Its proximity to attractions like Darling Harbour, Sydney Fish Market, and the Australian National Maritime Museum makes it an ideal starting point for exploring Sydney’s rich cultural landscape (Sydney Travel Guide). American casino giant Bally’s Corporation and Bitcoin bonus codes the billionaire Mathieson family are waiting on probity approvals to take control of Star, which has faced extreme financial pressure over the past 18 months. The Star’s Star Club program recognizes loyal gamers and diners, offering points for gaming, hotel stays, and restaurant visits, redeemable for play, prizes, and exclusive access. The Star Sydney, previously known as Star City Casino, occupies a central position in Australia’s gaming landscape, bringing together gamblers, holidaymakers, luxury-seekers, and event enthusiasts in one lavish complex. Since its inception, The Star has become synonymous with upscale entertainment, stylish events, and international class gaming—drawing millions of visitors each year and injecting vibrancy into Sydney’s tourism scene.
Many of the classic venues remain, including the Sydney Lyric, however a new Star Event Centre is now open catering to international performers, intimate concerts, conferences, exhibitions and functions. Watch sports at the 24/7 Sports Bar and catch live music at their in-house venue Rock Lily. There is also a looming penalty from Australia’s financial crimes regulator for alleged breaches of anti-money laundering laws. The trouble is, traditional casino owners like Star and Crown are ceding power and influence to a new breed of AC8 online casino comparison 2026 competitors such as Sportsbet and Bet365. Crown Resorts, Star’s domestic rival, was also subjected to successive public regulatory investigations starting in 2020, which each found that it was not fit to run instant payout casinos Australia. The crackdown was spurred by revelations of questionable business practices and porous anti-money laundering policies.
It reportedly has spent $50 million in a month over just $75 million cash at hand in the previous report. The company is reported to be waiting for access to proceeds from its asset sales, which are currently waiting for state approval, as well as a separate “bridge loan”, before it can refinance itself. With the company asking for financial support from the states, the states have reiterated their hesitancy to contribute, with NSW premier Chris Minns saying they are not using their taxpayer money on casinos rather than roads, EDs and schools. The share price saw a catastrophic 40% sell-off between 8 and 11 January 2025, becoming the worst performing business on the ASX, only selling for over a dime. This followed a release of a very bleak financial report over the previous quarter, particularly that it burned through $100 million in the quarter, and fears the company has a chance of collapsing into voluntary administration by the end of February. Angus Hewitt, an equity analyst at Morningstar, Inc., cites weak consumer sentiment and restrictions such as mandatory carded play as significant factors. There are also fears that its portfolio will be divested or shuttered, with the Queen’s Wharf FX VIP status benefits, Brisbane precinct opening just the previous August, as well as that the company collapsing will wipe out investors or workers.
The Star Sydney (formerly Star City Casino and prior to that, Sydney Harbour casino jackpot slots provider) in Pyrmont, Sydney, is the second largest casino in Australia after Melbourne’s Crown Casino. Overlooking Darling Harbour, The Star, owned by Star Entertainment Group features two gaming floors, one bar, 3 restaurants, 351 hotel rooms and 130 serviced and privately owned apartments. It also includes the 2,000 seat Sydney Lyric theatre, 360 seat Foundry Theatre and 3,000-seat Event Centre, the latter designed by Montreal-based theatre design firm Scéno Plus. Its gaming operations are overseen and controlled by the New South Wales Casino Control Authority and is licensed to be the only legal casino in New South Wales.
In February 2018, Star’s market capitalisation reached a high-water mark of $5 billion. When Star shares went into a trading halt this year, plenty of pundits envisaged a scenario where Crown bought the jewel in Star’s portfolio – the Sydney casino – and with it the poker machine licences that would reverse its own fortunes. US casino giant Bally’s Corporation, a self-described “buyer of last resort” whose advances Star had previously rebuffed, now offered $300 million in funding in exchange for control of the company. But as the company trickled down to its final dollar of cash, the former professional poker player had one more card in his hand. Most Star employees are based in Sydney, and despite recent troubles, its Pyrmont site remains a major tourism destination, with 650 hotel rooms and 36 food and beverage venues. Meanwhile, Star’s largest shareholder and legendary hotelier Bruce Mathieson had also previously pitched two offers for the company’s Gold Coast casino.