Crown Sydney casino is finally opening its doors to gamblers next month after a long drawn-out saga over its licence.
The casino, which looms over Sydney Harbour, forms part of a 75-storey tower that cost $1.6bn to build.
It is set to become one of Australia’s most iconic buildings but the casino itself is two years delayed, due to a suspension of its licence just days before its planned opening in 2020.
In a statement Monday, Crown said: “The doors to Australia’s only VIP casino will begin opening to members and guests from 08.08.2022.”
The luxury casino is expected to welcome VIPs to its gaming floor in August, and then add more casual players to its tables and slot machines later in the year.
And casino goers from across the world will no-doubt be waiting to explore the hotel resort for themselves, with new images of the casino and tower being released.
Crown Sydney Casino In Photos
The casino forms part of the dining and hotel tower in Barangaroo, across the Harbour from Sydney’s most iconic buildings. It features:
- 1.5 million sq ft casino floor
- 160 gambling tables
- 70 electronic table games
- 820ft observation deck
- 350-room hotel
- 82 apartments
- Bars and restaurants
- Gym
- Tennis court
- Aided by 1,300 employees (420 in gaming related roles)
There will be two “luxurious VIP gaming floors” named the Crystal Room and Mahogany Room, with 12 additional exclusive private Sky Salons located midway up the tower. The Crystal Room will open in August, while the Mahogany Room will open at a later date, reports the Canberra Times.
“The opening of our gaming operations at Crown Sydney is a defining moment for Crown, and the culmination of months of hard work from our dedicated team,” Crown Sydney CEO Simon McGrath said.
“The entire team at Crown Sydney has been preparing for this moment for a long time and we felt the symbolism of the 08.08 date represented ideal timing to open our doors.”
Why Was Crown Sydney Casino Delayed?
The opening of this casino has suffered a number of setbacks. In late 2021 the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) suspended Crown’s licence following allegations of dealings with organised crime groups.
Crown overhauled its management structure in an effort to appease the authorities, but had already suffered a blow to its reputation in 2019 when a 60 Minutes program ‘Crown Unmasked’ unearthed serious allegations of fraud and links to organised crime.
Only last month did the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority grant a “members-only” casino in the Barangaroo complex. This is on an 18-24 month conditional period, during which the authority will monitor changes made at Crown Sydney and ensure they are “embedded” within the business.
“With a complete clean-out of the board and senior executive, Crown has made significant progress and has agreed to ongoing work to regain its casino licence,” LGA chair Philip Crawford recently said.
Simon McGrath added: “We are committed to delivering a safe and responsible gaming environment for all, and Crown Sydney’s restricted gaming facility has been designed with the highest levels of governance and compliance.”
