Brisbane’s land‑based casino and pokie scene has shifted dramatically in recent years, with the historic Treasury Casino closing in August 2024 and a new integrated resort, The Star Brisbane at Queen’s Wharf, taking over as the city’s main casino hub. Around this flagship development, a dense network of pubs and hotels with pokies across Brisbane City and the suburbs gives locals and visitors plenty of smaller, everyday places to play.
Brisbane as a gambling city
For a long time, Brisbane’s casino identity centred on Treasury Casino, a three‑level gaming venue housed in restored heritage government buildings just off Queen Street Mall. That property closed its casino operations to the public on 25 August 2024 as part of a planned transition to the new Queen’s Wharf precinct, leaving Treasury Hotel and some hospitality outlets trading but shifting the actual casino licence to The Star Brisbane.
The new Queen’s Wharf development is a multi‑billion‑dollar project on the northern bank of the Brisbane River, designed as a tourism, leisure and entertainment district with a large casino at its core. It features multiple hotel towers, restaurants, bars, a public “Sky Deck” and an expansive gaming floor that positions Brisbane alongside other major Asia‑Pacific casino destinations rather than as a one‑casino city anchored in historic buildings.
At the same time, Brisbane’s CBD and surrounding suburbs host dozens of pubs and bars with pokie rooms, from traditional taverns such as Criterion Tavern and Embassy Hotel through to more modern venues and sports bars. These venues provide the “pokies near me” experience for locals who want a short session tied to a meal, after‑work drink or televised game rather than a full resort outing.
The Star Brisbane at Queen’s Wharf
Location and overall concept
The Star Brisbane sits within the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct, stretching along the river between the CBD and South Bank. Promoters describe it as a “destination like no other” in the city, combining luxury hotels, a casino, riverside promenades, retail, dining and entertainment in one integrated complex.
The casino component is operated by The Star Entertainment Group, which moved its Brisbane licence from the former Treasury site into this new development. The precinct includes multiple hotel brands, residential towers, function spaces and a signature Sky Deck that offers public viewing and dining high above the river, creating a resort skyline that is intended to reshape Brisbane’s riverfront.
Gaming floors and game selection
The Star Brisbane’s casino floors offer a large selection of slot machines, table games and VIP areas designed to cater to both casual visitors and serious players. Regulatory approval reportedly covers up to 2,500 pokies for the Queen’s Wharf casino, with around 1,500 machines in operation in the early stages of development.
On the main floors, players will find a mix of classic pokies and contemporary video slots featuring multi‑line betting, themed bonus rounds and linked jackpots, reflecting trends seen at other modern Australian casinos. Table‑game options include multiple variants of Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat, several forms of casino poker, Sic Bo and craps, plus house‑branded games such as Casino War and wheel‑based titles.
The design of the gaming spaces emphasises open sightlines, escalator access to different levels and a progression from busier main floors to more private high‑roller areas. For many visitors, that translates to a choice between high‑energy, crowded sections near the bar and entertainment zones, and quieter pockets where you can focus on your game with fewer distractions.
VIP and premium play
As with other Star Entertainment properties, The Star Brisbane devotes significant space to premium and VIP play. High‑limit rooms sit on elevated levels with river views and more intimate layouts, offering higher table limits, private bars, tailored food service and personal host support for invited players.
These areas integrate into a broader loyalty program that links Brisbane with The Star’s other properties, allowing regulars to earn points, status credits and invitations to events across the group. For players who value privacy, personalised service and higher stakes, the VIP facilities are a major step up from what was available on the constrained Treasury Casino footprint.
Accommodation, dining and nightlife
Queen’s Wharf’s accommodation offering covers several hotel brands at different price points, from luxury towers aimed at international travellers and high‑end domestic visitors through to more mainstream rooms for conference and event guests. Many rooms have views over the river or the CBD, and guests can move directly from the hotel lobbies into the casino, restaurants and retail areas without needing to step outside.
Dining is a major pillar of the precinct, with fine‑dining restaurants, casual eateries, food‑court options and themed bars spread through the casino podium and surrounding streets. The Sky Deck, in particular, is positioned as a signature dining and bar experience, combining open‑air views, cocktails and an elevated perspective over the river and South Bank.
Nightlife includes bars, lounges, live‑music venues and event spaces, which aim to attract a broader crowd than just gamblers and to help position Queen’s Wharf as a general entertainment hub for Brisbane. For casino players, this means you can combine gaming sessions with shows, late‑night drinks and non‑gaming activities without leaving the complex.
Treasury Casino: heritage background
Although the casino operations have ceased, Treasury Casino still shapes how many people think about gambling in Brisbane. The venue occupied the former Treasury Building and Lands Administration Building, both heritage‑listed structures that were converted into a hotel and three‑level casino in the mid‑1990s.
At its peak, Treasury Casino housed more than 80 gaming tables and around 1,300–1,500 gaming machines across its levels, offering Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat and poker in richly decorated rooms with high ceilings, columns and period detailing. Reviews frequently highlighted the contrast between old‑world architecture and modern gaming technology, as well as the property’s central location just off Queen Street Mall.
The closure of the casino in 2024 did not mean the end of the Treasury brand altogether; Treasury Hotel continues to host guests, and some restaurants and bars remain in operation, but the primary gaming licence and main casino action have moved downstream to Queen’s Wharf. For visitors arriving today, that means historic buildings for accommodation and dining, and a separate, purpose‑built complex for gambling and large‑scale entertainment.
Pokies in Brisbane pubs and clubs
CBD pokie venues
Inside Brisbane City itself, a variety of pubs and hotels run pokie rooms that cater to city workers, residents and visitors looking for a more casual experience than a full casino night. Venues listed in Brisbane City include Criterion Tavern, Embassy Hotel, Stock Exchange Hotel, Grand Central Hotel, Hotel Orient, Irish Murphy’s and Port Office Hotel, among others.
These venues generally feature smaller pokie rooms compared with a casino, with a modest lineup of machines positioned alongside bars, bistros and sports screens. Many focus on after‑work and weekend trade, offering meal deals, drink specials and live music while the pokies operate in a separate or semi‑separated area that meets local regulations.
Suburban and wider‑Brisbane options
Beyond the CBD, Brisbane’s greater metropolitan area contains numerous taverns, RSL clubs and hotels with pokies and TAB facilities. Directories of Australian pokie venues highlight that Queensland pubs often blend sports‑bar environments with gaming rooms, giving players a familiar mix of televised sport, food, drinks and poker machines under one roof.
While some of the most heavily marketed pokie spots in Queensland sit on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, Brisbane’s local venues still provide plenty of choice for residents who want to stay close to home. For many regulars, the appeal lies in the social connection and the ability to combine a few spins with dinner or a night out with friends rather than the scale and spectacle of a large casino.
Regulatory and AML environment
Australian pokie venues, including pubs and clubs in Brisbane, must comply with strict anti‑money‑laundering and counter‑terrorism‑financing laws overseen by AUSTRAC. Even smaller venues are expected to identify suspicious cash activity, maintain detailed records and ensure staff are trained in recognising potential money‑laundering patterns.
On top of federal AML rules, Queensland’s gambling regulators set standards for harm minimisation, signage, odds disclosure, self‑exclusion programs and staff training on responsible gambling. In practice, this means that Brisbane pokie rooms display information about help services, odds and responsible gambling messages, and provide mechanisms for players to restrict or exclude themselves if gambling becomes problematic.
Atmosphere and player experience
Casino resort versus local pub
The feel of a night out at The Star Brisbane is very different from a session at a city pub or suburban tavern pokie room. The new casino sits within a polished, purpose‑built precinct with cutting‑edge architecture, multiple hotel towers and panoramic views over the river and city skyline. Inside, the gaming floors are large, busy and highly lit, with sophisticated sound design, digital signage and a clear separation between main‑floor play, VIP zones and non‑gaming facilities.
Local pokie venues, by contrast, usually offer a more intimate and familiar atmosphere, with machines located in modest rooms near the bar or bistro. You are more likely to see regulars chatting with staff, watching sport and treating the pokies as one part of a night out rather than as the central focus of their visit.
Game variety and stakes
If you want the widest choice of games and bet sizes, The Star Brisbane is the obvious starting point, with hundreds of slots and a broad range of table games available under one roof. The casino’s approval for up to 2,500 machines, with roughly 1,500 in early operation, allows it to spread different denominations, themes and volatility profiles across the floor, giving both low‑limit and higher‑limit players room to find their preferred style.
Pubs and clubs in Brisbane focus primarily on pokies and, in some cases, electronic table games or TAB wagering, with fewer game types and lower stakes than high‑limit casino rooms. For many players, however, the limited selection is not a drawback; if your main goal is to enjoy a few spins on familiar titles and then return to the bar or dining area, the smaller scale can actually feel more manageable and less intense.
Accessibility and convenience
Queen’s Wharf is centrally located and well connected to public transport, riverside footpaths and the broader CBD, making it easy to reach for tourists staying in the city as well as locals coming in for a night or weekend. Because so many facilities are contained within the precinct, you can park once or arrive by train or bus and spend the entire evening or weekend moving between the casino, restaurants and bars without needing to travel further.
By contrast, pokie venues are dispersed throughout Brisbane City and the suburbs, so “near me” searches will tend to bring up the closest pub or hotel rather than directing you into the CBD. This suits players who prioritise staying close to home, avoiding late‑night transport back from the city or simply wanting a quick, low‑effort outing.
Comparing The Star Brisbane, Treasury (historic) and local pokie venues
| Feature | The Star Brisbane (Queen’s Wharf) | Treasury Casino (historic, closed 2024) | Brisbane pubs/hotels with pokies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | New flagship integrated resort casino at Queen’s Wharf. | Former heritage casino; gaming closed Aug 2024, hotel and some hospitality remain. | Active, widely distributed venues across CBD and suburbs. |
| Location | Riverfront precinct between CBD and South Bank. | Heritage buildings near Queen Street Mall in the CBD. | Various addresses in Brisbane City and suburbs (e.g., Criterion Tavern, Embassy Hotel, Port Office). |
| Gaming scale | Approval for up to 2,500 machines; ~1,500 operating plus extensive tables. | About 80+ tables and 1,300–1,500 machines at peak. | Small pokie rooms with limited numbers of machines. |
| Game types | Full mix of slots, blackjack variants, roulette, baccarat, poker, Sic Bo, craps, wheel games and VIP offerings. | Similar mix of tables and pokies, with strong poker presence, in heritage rooms. | Mainly pokies; some venues add TAB, Keno and sports‑bar wagering. |
| Accommodation | Multiple modern hotel towers integrated into the precinct. | Treasury Hotel remains but no longer hosts the main casino. | Typically no on‑site hotel (some exceptions), focus on local patrons. |
| Atmosphere | Modern, high‑energy resort feel with Sky Deck and river views. | Intimate, heritage interiors with ornate architecture. | Relaxed local pub or tavern vibe, strongly social. |
Practical pointers for players in Brisbane
If you want the broadest choice of games, entertainment and dining in one place, The Star Brisbane at Queen’s Wharf is the city’s new focal point, combining large gaming floors with high‑end restaurants, bars and hotel facilities. It is especially attractive for visitors planning a full weekend or staycation, with the ability to check into a hotel, explore the precinct and move between casino and non‑gaming activities without leaving the site.
If you live in Brisbane or are staying in the CBD and prefer a more low‑key experience, the many pubs and hotels with pokie rooms provide a simpler, more familiar style of play that can be combined with meals and socialising. These venues operate under the same broad AML and responsible‑gambling framework as larger casinos, so you will see clear messaging about help services, self‑exclusion and the risks of gambling wherever you play.
In all cases, it is important to treat gambling as entertainment rather than a source of income, set spend and time limits before you begin and take breaks to reassess how you are feeling. Brisbane’s mix of one major integrated resort and a wide network of pokie venues offers plenty of variety, but the best experiences tend to come when players approach both casinos and local pubs with clear boundaries and realistic expectations.
