Star city makeover may include 1000 more pokies

Star City Hotel and Casino complex is situated on Sydney Harbour and is the only casino in NSW.  It is owned by Tabcorp Holdings Limited, which owns other casinos around the country.

Star City Casino is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment and it hoped that it will include 1000 more gaming machines, bringing the total to 2500, on a par with the Crown Casino in Melbourne.

One reason for the hoped for increase in pokie machines is the ever growing threat from the online gambling business, which has taken much revenue from large land based casinos. By increasing the machines and the facilities it is hoped that more punters will be coaxed back into the casino.

However, the battle for permission for the machines is set to continue for some time.  If, as expected the current opposition gaming and racing spokesman, George Souris, gains power in March, then the permission seems more likely to be granted.

If a Coalition government were to give the green light for the pokie machine increase it would result in very welcome gaming tax revenue for government coffers. At present, with legislation preventing online gambling companies from operating within Australia, no tax revenue is raised from this hightly lucrative business, so taxes from land based casinos is always very welcome.