Sydney Casino 2026: The Star & Crown Sydney Complete Guide

Sydney has two casinos, on opposite sides of Darling Harbour, and each has its own personality, dress standard and clientele. The Star Sydney in Pyrmont is the long-established, full-service entertainment complex with pokies, table games, a long list of restaurants and bars, and the Sydney Lyric Theatre; Crown Sydney at Barangaroo is the slim glass blade rising over the harbour, home to the Crown Towers hotel, fine dining at restaurants such as a’Mare and a premium gaming program. This guide explains how each property works in 2026 – including the current regulatory situation at The Star – what to wear, how to get in, where to eat without ever touching a chip, and how to use either venue purely as a dining and entertainment destination.

01Sydney’s two casinos at a glance

For most visitors, choosing between Sydney casino venues comes down to what kind of night out you want. The Star is busy, broad, accessible and built for crowds; Crown Sydney is quieter, more exclusive and built around premium hospitality with a much smaller gaming footprint. Both properties admit only adults to gaming floors, but anyone of any age is welcome in the restaurants, bars and theatres provided they meet the relevant venue’s dress code.

02The Star Sydney complete guide

The Star Sydney sits on a hill above Pyrmont Bay, a fifteen-minute walk or single light rail stop from the CBD. It began as the temporary Sydney Harbour Casino on 13 September 1995, moved into its permanent home as Star City on 27 November 1997, and was renamed The Star in 2011 after a major refurbishment. The complex spans gaming floors, two hotels, more than twenty restaurants and bars, and the Sydney Lyric Theatre.

Gaming floor

The Star’s main gaming floor has electronic gaming machines (pokies) and a wide spread of table games. The Sovereign Room, Inner Sanctum and Chairman’s Lounge sit above the main floor as private and VIP areas. Minimum bets on the main floor typically start from AUD$5 on tables and one cent on pokies; high-limit tables run considerably higher.

Regulatory status in 2026

It is important to understand that The Star’s NSW casino licence has been suspended since October 2022, after the Bell review found the operator unsuitable over anti-money-laundering and related failings. The casino has remained open throughout the suspension under the supervision of an independent manager appointed by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC). In September 2026, at the NICC’s request, the Minister extended the term of that manager, Nick Weeks, until 30 June 2027, so the casino keeps operating under independent oversight. For visitors, the practical impact is minimal – pokies, tables, restaurants and shows all run as normal – but the property’s long-term ownership and licence position remains under active review.

Restaurants at The Star

Even people who never gamble visit The Star for the dining. The headline venues include:

• Sokyo – Chase Kojima’s contemporary Japanese restaurant on Level G of The Darling hotel, consistently rated among Sydney’s best Japanese rooms. Smart casual dress; bookings essential at weekends.
• BLACK Bar & Grill – The Star’s modern Australian steakhouse, with dry-aged beef, an extensive wine list and harbour views.
• Cucina Porto – Casual Italian for families and pre-show diners, with wood-fired pizzas, pastas and a fast-paced service style.
• Garden Buffet – The long-running buffet on the main floor, with international live-cooking stations and weekend seafood spreads. Popular with families and groups.
• Federal House – Local-pub-style venue with rotating taps, hearty plates and a less formal vibe than the main casino restaurants.

Around these are the lobby cafes, the Astral pool deck and casual outlets in the food precinct.

Sydney Lyric Theatre and the Event Centre

The Sydney Lyric Theatre, attached to The Star, is one of the city’s main venues for touring musicals – past productions include Hamilton, Frozen, & Juliet and Wicked. In January 2025 The Star announced the sale of the adjoining Event Centre, which is planned to be converted into a theatre by Foundation Theatres.

03Crown Sydney at Barangaroo: the premium Sydney casino

Crown Sydney occupies the slim, twisted 275-metre glass tower at One Barangaroo. It opened in December 2020, with Crown promoting the hotel opening as three months ahead of schedule, and was conceived from day one as a premium-focused Sydney casino. The property combines Crown Towers Sydney (the resort’s hotel), the Crystal Club lounge for hotel and members, destination restaurants, several bars and a discreet, members- and VIP-focused gaming program.

Gaming at Crown Sydney

Gaming at Crown Sydney is positioned for premium players: high-limit table games (baccarat, blackjack, roulette, sic bo), private salons and a strong focus on privacy and service. If pokies are what you want, The Star is the venue to head for. To play, you need an approved Crown Sydney casino membership, valid physical identification and to be 18 or over. BetStop, the national self-exclusion register, applies to licensed online and phone wagering providers.

The Crystal Club

The Crystal Club is Crown Sydney’s signature hotel club lounge, perched high in the tower with floor-to-ceiling harbour views, all-day food and drink, a dedicated concierge and one of the best Opera House panoramas in the city. Access is via Crystal Club room rates, suite bookings or a small number of upgrade packages, and it is a popular reason to book a night at Crown Towers Sydney for a special occasion rather than for the gaming.

Restaurants at Crown Sydney

Crown Sydney’s restaurants include:

• Nobu Crown Sydney – The Australian flagship of the global Nobu Matsuhisa group, with signature black cod, sushi counter and harbour terrace seating.
• Woodcut – Ross and Sunny Lusted’s wood, charcoal, steam and ice-driven Australian restaurant in the resort podium, with multiple open kitchens and a strong wine program.
• a’Mare – Alessandro Pavoni’s coastal Italian dining room on the lower level, known for handmade pasta, whole grilled fish and a vast Italian wine list.
• Yoshii’s Omakase – A ten-seat Japanese counter with a single nightly tasting from sushi master Ryuichi Yoshii.

Bars include the Sky Deck-level Crown Aer, the lobby champagne bar and several pool-deck venues at Crown Towers, all of which are open to the public subject to dress code and capacity.

Crown Towers Sydney

Crown Towers Sydney is the hotel above the resort, billed by Crown as Sydney’s first six-star property. It has 349 guest rooms in all (327 rooms, 20 villas and two premium villas), plus an outdoor infinity pool and the resort’s restaurants and bars below. Almost every room enjoys some view of the harbour, Barangaroo Reserve or the city skyline.

04Restaurants without gambling: using the Sydney casino venues as dining destinations

Both Sydney casino properties operate restaurants and bars that are completely independent of the gaming floors. You do not need to be a member, you do not need to enter the casino, and in most cases you do not even pass through the gaming areas to reach your table.

• At The Star, Sokyo, BLACK Bar & Grill, Cucina Porto and the Garden Buffet all have direct access from the public concourse. Children are welcome in all these venues at appropriate hours, even though they cannot enter the gaming floor.
• At Crown Sydney, Nobu, Woodcut and a’Mare are configured so that diners arrive through the hotel and restaurant podium without passing through gaming rooms at all. Children can dine in the restaurants but cannot enter the gaming salons or hotel club lounges that have age restrictions.

For first-time visitors who are not gamblers, this is the most important practical point: a Sydney casino dinner is simply a Sydney harbourfront dinner with extra security and a slightly stricter dress code.

05Shows and entertainment

The Star is by far the bigger entertainment programmer of the two Sydney casino properties. The Sydney Lyric Theatre regularly hosts major touring musicals. Tickets sit alongside dinner packages with the on-site restaurants, which is often the easiest way to plan a pre-show evening.

Crown Sydney does not operate a public theatre but uses the resort’s large ballroom and meeting spaces for galas, fashion shows, awards nights and private concerts. Big harbour fireworks nights – New Year’s Eve, Vivid, Australia Day – are particularly busy across both properties; book restaurants months in advance for those dates.

06Hotels on the Sydney casino strip

Each property has its own accommodation offering:

• The Darling – The Star’s five-star boutique hotel with 171 rooms and suites, a spa and a rooftop pool.
• The Star Grand Hotel and Residences Sydney – The Star’s larger four/five-star hotel tower above the main complex with harbour and city-view rooms and an outdoor pool.
• Crown Towers Sydney – Crown’s hotel tower, with the Crystal Club lounge, an outdoor infinity pool and the resort’s restaurants below.

The Star hotels are noticeably more family-friendly, with larger pool decks and easier access to Darling Harbour attractions; Crown Towers is geared firmly toward couples, business and luxury travellers.

07Getting there

The two Sydney casino venues are on opposite sides of Darling Harbour, both within easy walking distance of the CBD but reached most easily by different modes of public transport.

The Star (Pyrmont)

• Light rail – The L1 Dulwich Hill line stops at “The Star,” directly outside the main entrance, about ten minutes from Central Station.
• Ferry – The F4 Pyrmont Bay ferry from Circular Quay drops you a three-minute walk from the casino entrance via the waterfront promenade.
• Walking – You can walk from the QVB or Town Hall across the Pyrmont Bridge; the Trip Planner on transportnsw.info gives the walking time from your start point.
• Driving – Self-park and valet are available off Pirrama Road; the car park is large and signposted from the Western Distributor.

Crown Sydney (Barangaroo)

• Metro – The Barangaroo Metro station on the Sydney Metro City & Southwest line sits a short walk from the Crown Towers entrance.
• Ferry – Barangaroo ferry wharf connects to Circular Quay and lower north shore routes.
• Walking – Wynyard Station is around ten minutes via the Wynyard Walk tunnel, which exits directly into the Barangaroo precinct.
• Driving – Crown has its own valet and self-park entrance off Hickson Road.

Taxis and rideshare pick-up points are clearly marked at both properties. Taxi ranks at The Star can be busy after Lyric Theatre shows, so factor in an extra ten to fifteen minutes if you are leaving immediately after the curtain.

08Entry rules, ID and dress code

Both Sydney casino venues are bound by NSW gaming legislation, so the headline rules are the same at each:

• Minimum age – Age limits apply on the gaming floors, and Crown Sydney’s minimum is 18. Government-issued photo ID is mandatory; expect to be asked for it on every visit, regardless of how old you look.
• Excluded persons – Anyone on the NSW self-exclusion list or excluded by the operator is refused entry by facial-recognition and ID systems.
• Children – Minors are welcome in restaurants, hotel lobbies and theatres but cannot enter the gaming floor under any circumstances, even briefly to find a parent.
• Bags – Larger bags must be checked into the free lockers near the casino entrance. Security checks and entry conditions apply.

The Star dress code

The Star’s casino dress standard is “neat and tidy” smart casual. Not permitted: thongs (flip-flops), open sandals on men, singlets and muscle tops, ripped or stained clothing, sportswear that includes club colours, helmets, and clothing displaying offensive imagery. Closed shoes with socks, jeans, t-shirts with sleeves, smart shorts and tailored sportswear are all acceptable on the main floor. The Sovereign Room and high-limit areas enforce a noticeably tighter dress code; restaurants such as BLACK and Sokyo may set their own standards, so check when you book.

Crown Sydney dress code

Crown Sydney asks for smart casual attire at all times. Tailored trousers or jeans, collared shirts or smart tops, and closed shoes are the baseline; thongs, sportswear, beachwear, ripped denim and visible activewear are not accepted in the gaming and signature dining areas. Individual restaurants may set their own dress standards, so ask when you reserve. If in doubt, dress up.

09Responsible gambling

NSW has tightened responsible-gambling rules considerably in recent years, partly in response to the Bell Inquiry and the broader review of Sydney casino operations. Practical features at both venues include:

• Mandatory ID and carded play on certain machines and table-game thresholds.
• Pre-commitment limits – members can set daily and monthly loss and time limits that are enforced by the system.
• Self-exclusion – both casinos run their own self-exclusion programs in addition to the NSW state scheme and the national BetStop register, which blocks all licensed online wagering.
• On-site support – The Star Sydney’s Guest Support team is available 24/7 to help anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s gambling. GambleAware NSW counselling is free and confidential on 1800 858 858.

If gambling is not the point of your visit, do not feel obliged to play – both venues are designed to be visited just for the food, the views and the shows.

10Member rewards programs

Both Sydney casino properties run their own loyalty programs that work across restaurants, hotels and gaming.

• Star Club – The Star’s program with tiered membership earning points on gaming, dining, hotel stays and entertainment, redeemable across the complex. Sign-up is free at the membership desk near the main entrance and requires photo ID.
• Crown Rewards – Crown’s loyalty program with five tiers culminating in invitation-only Black status. Points earned across hotels, restaurants, bars and gaming can be redeemed for dining, accommodation, events and table play. Joining is free at any Crown Rewards desk.

If you plan to dine more than once at either property, look over the member benefits before your first booking: joining first can pay off.

11Best time to visit

Crown Sydney names Friday and Saturday evenings as peak times for its casino, so plan around them if you would rather a quieter first visit. At The Star, check the Lyric Theatre’s schedule before you go. Summer sunsets (December-February) from Crown Aer or The Star’s pool deck are among the best non-gambling reasons to visit either property.

12Tipping etiquette

Australia does not have a strong tipping culture. At Sydney casino restaurants and bars you are not expected to tip; service charges are not added to the bill. A 5-10 per cent rounding-up at fine-dining venues such as Woodcut, Sokyo or BLACK is appreciated but never required. Tipping dealers is generally not part of the local culture and at some tables is not permitted under operator policy.

13Beyond the gaming floors: nearby entertainment precincts

One of the advantages of Sydney’s two casino venues is that they sit inside larger entertainment precincts that are worth a wander even if you do not enter the gaming areas.

• Darling Harbour, across the bridge from The Star, includes SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the ICC Sydney convention complex and a long string of waterfront restaurants and bars.
• Barangaroo Reserve, immediately behind Crown Sydney, is a sandstone-headland park with walking trails, harbour views and one of the best sunset spots in the city.
• Wulugul Walk, the harbourfront promenade that runs north through Barangaroo and on into Barangaroo Reserve, passes the base of Crown Sydney.

It is entirely feasible to spend a full day moving between Pyrmont, Darling Harbour and Barangaroo on foot, using ferries and the light rail, without setting foot on a gaming floor at all.

14FAQ

15Helpful resources for planning your Sydney trip

For the very latest information on opening hours, ticketing and transport, the following official resources are kept up to date:

• The Star Sydney
• Crown Sydney
• Lyric Theatre Sydney
• NSW Independent Casino Commission
• GambleAware NSW
• Sydney.com nightlife

16Related Sydney guides

More on Sydney after dark:

• Sydney nightlife
• where to dance late
• what to do at Darling Harbour
• fine dining
• Sydney’s best bars
• staying at Darling Harbour