The Burswood Casino in Perth no longer trades under that name. The venue opened in 1985 as Burswood Island Casino and operated through several ownership and branding changes before becoming Crown Perth in 2012. The physical location, gaming licence, and operations remain the same—searches for Burswood Casino today refer to the complex now known as Crown Perth, Western Australia's only land-based casino licence holder.
What Happened to Burswood Casino Perth
The casino opened on 30 December 1985 as Burswood Island Casino, operated by Burswood Nominees Pty Ltd under a state casino licence. The venue sat on Burswood Island (now simply Burswood), an inner suburb near the Swan River, and was Western Australia's first legal casino. For nearly two decades the brand remained stable, though ownership changed hands.
In September 2004, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL) acquired all shares in Burswood Limited, the holding company that controlled the casino licence. PBL rebranded the property as Burswood Entertainment Complex, reflecting the addition of hotels, restaurants, theatres, and convention facilities around the gaming floor. The name emphasised the integrated resort model rather than gaming alone.
The Crown Perth rebrand arrived in December 2012. PBL's gaming assets had been spun off into Crown Limited (later Crown Resorts), and chairman James Packer announced the Burswood name would be replaced with Crown Perth to align the property with Crown Melbourne and the under-construction Crown Sydney. A major renovation accompanied the rebrand, modernising the gaming floor, upgrading hotel rooms, and adding new dining venues. The legal entity holding the casino licence remained Burswood Nominees Pty Ltd, but all public-facing branding switched to Crown Perth.
Crown Resorts was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange until June 2022, when Blackstone Inc., a US private equity firm, completed its acquisition of the company. The Western Australian Gaming and Wagering Commission and the state Racing and Gaming Minister granted approval for the acquisition, and Blackstone now owns Crown Perth through its subsidiary structure. The casino licence, regulatory obligations, and operational footprint did not change with the ownership transfer.
| Period | Name | Owner | What Changed | What Stayed the Same |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–2004 | Burswood Island Casino / Burswood Casino | Burswood Limited | Original opening and establishment as WA's first legal casino | Casino licence held by Burswood Nominees Pty Ltd; same physical location on Burswood Island |
| 2004–2012 | Burswood Entertainment Complex | PBL (Publishing and Broadcasting Limited) | PBL acquired Burswood Limited; rebrand to emphasise integrated resort with hotels, dining, theatre, and convention facilities | Casino licence entity unchanged; gaming floor and location remained; WA state regulation continued |
| 2012–2022 | Crown Perth | Crown Resorts (formerly Crown Limited, spun off from PBL) | Full rebrand to Crown Perth with major renovation; aligned branding with Crown Melbourne and Crown Sydney | Burswood Nominees Pty Ltd remained licence holder; same site and regulatory framework; gaming products and integrated resort model continued |
| 2022–present | Crown Perth | Blackstone Inc. (via acquisition of Crown Resorts) | Private equity acquisition; Crown Resorts delisted from ASX | Crown Perth branding, casino licence, operations, and WA Gaming and Wagering Commission oversight unchanged |
The licence itself has been continuous since 1985. When you search for the Burswood Casino in Perth today, you're looking for Crown Perth at Great Eastern Highway, Burswood. The venue operates under the same Western Australian state casino licence that was issued to Burswood Nominees Pty Ltd nearly four decades ago.
Crown Perth Today: Gaming, Dining, and Entertainment
Crown Perth operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for three days each year when the venue closes for maintenance and regulatory compliance. The complex includes a casino gaming floor, three hotels (Crown Towers, Crown Promenade, and Crown Metropol), more than 30 dining venues ranging from casual to fine dining, a theatre hosting live performances, bars, and convention facilities.
Gaming Floor and Products
The main gaming floor is open to anyone aged 18 or over with valid photo identification. The floor contains over 2,000 electronic gaming machines (pokies) and more than 200 table games. Pokies include traditional reel slots and video slots with varied themes, paylines, and bonus features. Table games cover blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker variants, and other options. Minimum and maximum bets vary by table and time of day.
VIP gaming rooms sit off the main floor with separate access and higher table limits. These rooms require membership or invitation and cater to high-stakes players seeking a more private environment. Crown Perth also offers electronic table games, which use video terminals rather than live dealers but follow the same game rules as traditional tables.
Crown Rewards is the venue's loyalty programme. Membership is free and provides access to promotions, earn rates on gaming activity, and benefits across Crown properties. For pokies play, a Crown Rewards card is required—machines link play to the card, which also enables responsible gambling limits tied to your membership account.
Dining, Hotels, and Entertainment
Dining options range from quick counter service to signature restaurants. Venues include buffets, steakhouses, Asian cuisine, Italian, and cafes. Bookings are recommended for fine dining, particularly on weekends. Bars and lounges are scattered across the complex, some within the gaming floor and others in hotel lobbies or near the theatre.
The three hotels provide several hundred rooms total. Crown Towers is the luxury tier, Crown Promenade targets mid-range stays, and Crown Metropol offers contemporary rooms with pool and gym access. All three connect directly to the casino, dining, and entertainment areas. Guests don't need to leave the complex to access the full range of facilities.
Crown Theatre Perth seats around 2,300 and hosts musicals, concerts, comedy, and other live performances. The theatre operates on a ticketed schedule separate from casino admission. Conference and event spaces accommodate corporate functions, weddings, and large gatherings.
Location, Access, and Entry Requirements
Crown Perth is at Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, approximately six kilometres east of Perth's central business district. The venue sits adjacent to Optus Stadium and is accessible by car, taxi, rideshare, and public transport. Burswood Station on the Armadale and Thornlie lines provides train access. Free parking is available on site, though spaces fill quickly during major events.
Smart casual dress is the general standard for the main gaming floor and most dining venues. Thongs, singlets, and work boots are typically not permitted. VIP rooms and fine dining restaurants enforce stricter dress codes—collared shirts and closed shoes for men, equivalent standards for women. Check specific venue requirements before visiting.
You must be 18 or older to enter the gaming floor. Photo identification is mandatory—an Australian driver's licence, passport, or proof of age card. Security checks ID at entry points and may request it again inside. Minors are allowed in hotel lobbies, restaurants, and the theatre, but not on the gaming floor or in bars within the casino area.
Western Australian Casino Licensing and Consumer Protection
Crown Perth operates under a state casino licence governed by the Casino Control Act 1984 (WA). The Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia (GWC) is the statutory authority responsible for regulating the venue. The GWC oversees licence conditions, compliance, gaming integrity, responsible gambling measures, and employee licensing. The state Racing and Gaming Minister holds ultimate authority over licence approvals and major regulatory decisions.
This is a land-based casino licence, not an online gambling licence. Crown Perth does not operate an online casino or offer internet gaming under its Western Australian licence. The licence permits only the physical gaming floor at the Burswood site. Australians looking for legal online gambling options are limited to sports and race betting services licensed by the Northern Territory Racing Commission or state regulators, and some offshore lottery services. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 prohibits unlicensed online casino services from being provided to Australian residents, and offshore casino websites operate without Australian regulatory oversight or consumer protections.
Royal Commission and Suitability Review
Between 2021 and 2022, the Perth Casino Royal Commission examined Crown Perth's conduct, governance, and regulatory compliance. The inquiry followed findings from a New South Wales inquiry that identified money laundering risks, junket arrangements, and governance failures at Crown's eastern states properties. The Royal Commission made recommendations to strengthen Western Australia's casino regulatory framework and impose conditions on Crown Perth's ongoing suitability to hold a licence.
In July 2025, the Western Australian government announced that Crown Perth was a suitable entity to continue operating the casino without additional penalties or conditions beyond those already implemented. The GWC found that Crown had made sufficient governance, compliance, and risk management improvements. The decision allowed Crown Perth to retain its licence and continue operations, closing a multi-year regulatory review process.
Dispute Resolution and Responsible Gambling
Patron disputes with Crown Perth can be raised with the venue's customer service and management teams. If unresolved, complaints may be escalated to the GWC or the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, which oversees gaming regulation in Western Australia. The GWC investigates compliance breaches, unfair gaming practices, and licence condition violations.
Crown Perth is required to provide responsible gambling tools including deposit limits, loss limits, time reminders, and self-exclusion. Limits are set and managed through your Crown Rewards account when playing pokies, as machines require card insertion to operate. Table game limits are enforced manually through staff monitoring. Self-exclusion can be requested for periods ranging from months to permanent bans, and the venue must enforce exclusions by refusing entry and ceasing marketing contact.
The National Self-Exclusion Register (BetStop) allows Australians to self-exclude from multiple licensed gambling services at once. Crown Perth participates in BetStop, meaning a BetStop registration will trigger exclusion from the venue. Registration is free and can be completed online or by phone. Once active, Crown Perth and other participating services must block your access and stop all direct marketing.
Problem gambling support is available through Gambling Help Online, a free and confidential service providing phone counselling (1800 858 858), online chat, and referrals to face-to-face services. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Western Australia also funds regional gambling support services for residents outside the Perth metropolitan area.
Is Burswood Casino still open in Perth?
Burswood Casino is no longer called that. The venue now operates as Crown Perth and has done so since 2012. The physical location, gaming licence, and operations are the same—only the branding changed. Crown Perth is at Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, and remains Western Australia's only licensed land-based casino.
When did Burswood Casino change its name to Crown Perth?
The rebrand from Burswood Entertainment Complex to Crown Perth occurred in December 2012 under Crown Resorts ownership. The venue originally opened as Burswood Island Casino in 1985, became Burswood Entertainment Complex in 2004 under PBL, then adopted the Crown Perth name in 2012 to align with Crown Melbourne and Crown Sydney.
Who owns Crown Perth in 2026?
Blackstone Inc., a US private equity firm, owns Crown Perth through its acquisition of Crown Resorts, completed in June 2022. The casino licence remains held by Burswood Nominees Pty Ltd, and operations continue under the Crown Perth brand with oversight by the Western Australian Gaming and Wagering Commission.
Can I play online casino games at Crown Perth?
No. Crown Perth's Western Australian licence permits only land-based gaming at the Burswood venue. The casino does not operate an online casino or offer internet gaming under its state licence. Offshore online casino sites are unlicensed in Australia and operate without local consumer protections or regulatory oversight.