Casino regulation

The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) takes community concerns about the integrity of Queensland’s casinos seriously. We are committed to strongly regulating and educating existing casino operators as well as the operators of the new casino in the Queen’s Wharf precinct.

Our casino regulation priorities include reform and oversight of casino operations and implementing agreed actions from recent reviews.

We’re also working with casinos to ensure their gambling harm minimisation programs prioritise customer wellbeing and support safer gambling.

On this page you’ll find information about recent casino-related reforms and reviews.

Queensland’s casinos

We regulate all 4 of Queensland’s casino, including:

  • Treasury Brisbane—operated by The Star Entertainment QLD Limited
  • The Star Gold Coast—operated by The Star Entertainment QLD Limited
  • The Ville Casino in Townsville—operated by Breakwater Island Limited
  • The Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns—operated by Casinos Austria International (Cairns) Limited.

We also licence and regulate the new Queen’s Wharf casino—The Star Brisbane. The licensee of this casino is Destination Brisbane Consortium Integrated Resort Operations Pty Ltd.

Legislation

Casinos operate under the following legislation:

Regulatory reform

Queensland’s Casino Control Act 1982 was amended in March 2024 to include specific measures to minimise gambling harm and prevent money laundering.

The law reforms require casinos to:

  • implement mandatory carded play for certain games and activities and restrict the use of cash
  • implement mandatory pre-commitments, time limits and enforced player breaks
  • collect information about play and provide certain de-identified data to OLGR
  • comply with an enforceable code of conduct (to be defined in a regulation)
  • pay a supervision levy to the government to cover the costs of casino regulation and to fund gambling harm minimisation programs
  • take steps to exclude people who are banned from entering interstate casinos by an interstate police commissioner
  • undergo a review of their operations and suitability at least every 5 years.

Certain potentially stigmatising language was also removed from the Act.

The reforms also strengthen inspectors’ powers and allow them to interview minors and excluded people found on casino premises.

Previous reforms implemented in 2022 strengthened disciplinary action and penalties, allowing the government to fine casinos up to $100 million and appoint a special manager to oversee their operations. These reforms were key in disciplinary action taken against The Star Entertainment Group in December 2022.

Review of The Star Entertainment Group in Queensland

In 2022 the Queensland Government commissioned an external review into the operations of The Star Entertainment Group in Queensland, which was conducted by the Honourable Robert Gotterson AO KC.

The review was initiated in reaction to serious allegations about the governance and operational arrangements of The Star Group entities, as well as public inquiries and regulator investigations into casino operators in other Australian jurisdictions.

Read more about the Gotterson review or download the final report.

Suitability reviews

We monitor the suitability of all licensed casino entities and their associates to hold a casino licence or be connected with the ownership, management or administration of a casino.

Chow Tai Fook Enterprises

In response to media allegations concerning Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), OLGR commissioned an independent review of their suitability to be connected with the ownership, administration or management of The Star Brisbane Casino.

Last updated:
18 April 2024