SkyCity Adelaide
SkyCity Adelaide, historically known as Adelaide Casino, is South Australia's sole licensed casino and an integrated entertainment venue in Adelaide's heritage-listed railway station building.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
SkyCity Adelaide is a casino and entertainment complex on North Terrace at the northern edge of Adelaide's city centre. The property occupies the heritage-listed Adelaide railway station building and combines casino gaming with restaurants, bars, function spaces, hospitality and hotel accommodation. Although the commercial brand has changed over time, the venue is commonly identified in historical and regulatory contexts as Adelaide Casino and has operated under the SkyCity Adelaide name for substantial periods. The casino opened in December 1985. Its original licence was held by the state-owned Lotteries Commission, which appointed Aitco Pty Ltd to establish and operate the venue. The casino initially opened with 89 gaming tables. Video gaming machines were authorised in 1991, and poker machines were introduced in 1993. By 1997, the property had 674 machines. Under the original arrangements, government receipts included licence fees, unclaimed prizes, a percentage of net table-game revenue and a percentage of machine turnover. In June 2000, the casino was sold to SkyCity Entertainment Group. A new licensing framework combined the roles of licensee and operator, with SkyCity Adelaide Pty Ltd becoming the licensee. The property was officially renamed SkyCity Adelaide in April 2001, although the name later reverted to Adelaide Casino in 2009. Licence variations formalised in October 2013 extended the venue's exclusivity for casino table games and automated table games in South Australia to 30 June 2035, while also creating new duty arrangements and permitting substantial increases in gaming capacity, subject to redevelopment. The venue underwent a major interior redevelopment beginning in December 2003, followed by further refurbishment and expansion projects. In 2014, the casino commissioned hand-crafted glass pendant lights from JamFactory artists for the redesigned SKYroom, formerly known as the Pearl Room. The property subsequently became part of the broader Riverbank and Festival Plaza redevelopment alongside the Adelaide Convention Centre and Adelaide Festival Centre. Expansion work began in 2018, with most of the redevelopment completed during 2020 and 2021. The resulting complex expanded beyond a conventional casino model. In 2021, EOS by SkyCity opened as a 120-room hotel within the approximately A$330 million development project. The expansion also added the Sôl rooftop venue and enlarged gaming and entertainment areas. The casino has been described as having up to 90 gaming tables and approximately 950 gaming machines in its operating configuration, while the 2013 licence variation established a future framework allowing up to 200 tables and 1,500 machines if the required floor space was delivered. SkyCity Adelaide is the only licensed casino in South Australia. It is regulated under the Casino Act 1997 by the state's gambling and liquor authorities, including the Independent Gambling Authority and the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner within Consumer and Business Services. The venue competes for gaming-machine customers with hotels and licensed clubs across South Australia, while retaining a statutory exclusivity position for casino table games. It is also a major employer and hospitality destination in the state, with the referenced material describing a workforce of more than 1,100 people.
History
Adelaide Casino opened in December 1985 in the heritage-listed Adelaide railway station building on North Terrace. The original licence was held by the state-owned Lotteries Commission, which appointed Aitco Pty Ltd to establish and operate the venue. It opened with 89 gaming tables and was initially structured around a separation between the state licence-holder and the operating company. The venue's gaming offer expanded during the 1990s. Video gaming machines were authorised in 1991, followed by poker machines in 1993. By 1997, the property had 674 machines. Under the original financial and licensing structure, the government received licence fees, unclaimed prizes, 13.75 percent of net gaming revenue from table games and 4 percent of machine turnover. For the financial year ending June 1995, the amount paid to government was reported as A$20.20 million. A major ownership and regulatory change occurred in June 2000, when SkyCity Entertainment Group acquired the casino. The new licensing regime removed the previous separation between licensee and operator, and SkyCity Adelaide Pty Ltd became the casino licensee. The venue was renamed SkyCity Adelaide in April 2001. A three-year interior redevelopment began in December 2003, reflecting an effort to modernise the property and broaden its hospitality and entertainment offer. The name reverted to Adelaide Casino in 2009, although SkyCity remained the operating group. The casino's position was further defined by licence changes formalised on 11 October 2013. These arrangements extended its exclusivity for table games and automated table-game products in South Australia until 30 June 2035 and established new duty arrangements. They also provided for an increase in potential capacity from 90 to 200 tables and from 995 to 1,500 gaming machines, subject to the completion of redevelopment and the provision of suitable floor space. The property continued to compete for machine gaming with South Australia's hotels and licensed clubs, while retaining its distinctive position as the state's only licensed casino. Refurbishment continued in the 2010s. In 2014, the property commissioned a group of 12 JamFactory artists to create hand-crafted glass pendant lights for the A$5 million-plus SKYroom, previously known as the Pearl Room. The project formed part of an interior upgrade intended to improve the venue's events and premium hospitality facilities. From 2015, the casino became connected to the broader Riverbank precinct programme, which included the Adelaide Convention Centre and Adelaide Festival Centre. The casino announced an expansion beginning in 2018, with the stated aim of creating an integrated entertainment destination on the Festival Plaza forecourt. Most of the redevelopment was completed in 2020 and 2021. Its most visible hospitality addition was EOS by SkyCity, which opened in 2021 with 120 rooms and the Sôl rooftop venue, alongside expanded gaming areas. Today, SkyCity Adelaide operates as a casino, hotel, dining, events and entertainment complex. It remains regulated under the Casino Act 1997 by South Australian gambling and liquor authorities, including the Independent Gambling Authority and the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner within Consumer and Business Services. The referenced material describes it as employing more than 1,100 people and as one of South Australia's largest employers. Historical figures also record more than A$41 million in taxes and charges paid to state and federal governments in 2007 and 2008 combined or across the cited period, although the available material does not provide a complete annual breakdown.
- 2021
EOS by SkyCity opens
[1]The expanded complex adds a 120-room hotel, Sôl rooftop venue and additional gaming space.
- 2018
Festival Plaza expansion begins
[1]The casino's major expansion begins as part of the Riverbank precinct redevelopment.
- 2014
SKYroom refurbishment commissioned
[1]A refurbishment commissions hand-crafted glass lighting from JamFactory artists for the redesigned events space.
- 2013
Licence exclusivity and capacity framework revised
[1]Licence variations extend table-game exclusivity to 2035 and establish a larger potential gaming capacity subject to redevelopment.
- 2009
Name reverts to Adelaide Casino
[1]The venue returns to the Adelaide Casino name in 2009.
- 2003
Interior redevelopment begins
[1]A three-year interior redevelopment programme starts in December.
- 2001
Commercial name changes to SkyCity Adelaide
[1]The property is officially renamed SkyCity Adelaide.
- 2000
SkyCity acquires the casino
[1]SkyCity Entertainment Group purchases the property under a revised South Australian casino licensing framework.
- 1993
Poker machines introduced
[1]Poker machines become part of the casino's permitted gaming operations.
- 1991
Video gaming machines authorised
[1]The venue receives authorisation to operate video gaming machines.
Products and positioning
An integrated casino, hotel, dining and entertainment destination serving Adelaide and South Australia, anchored by a heritage railway-station setting and a state-regulated casino licence.
Casino gaming · 1985
Casino table games
SkyCity Adelaide's traditional casino offer includes table-based gaming within South Australia's only licensed casino. The property's regulatory framework grants it exclusivity for casino table games and automated table-game products in the state until 30 June 2035. The 2013 licence variation provided for a potential increase from 90 to 200 tables, subject to redevelopment and available floor space.
Casino gaming · 1991
Electronic gaming machines
Electronic gaming forms a substantial part of the venue's casino operation. Video gaming machines were authorised in 1991 and poker machines in 1993. The venue has been described as operating approximately 950 machines, while its revised licence framework permits expansion toward 1,500 machines subject to redevelopment. It competes in this segment with gaming-machine venues in South Australian hotels and licensed clubs.
Hotel · 2021
EOS by SkyCity
EOS by SkyCity is the property's hotel component, opened in 2021 as part of the major Festival Plaza and Riverbank-related development. The hotel provides 120 rooms and extends the venue's positioning from a casino into an integrated hospitality and entertainment destination.
Dining and hospitality · 2021
Sôl Rooftop
Sôl Rooftop is a rooftop hospitality venue introduced with the EOS by SkyCity development. It forms part of the property's expanded dining, beverage and entertainment offer and supports the broader strategy of presenting SkyCity Adelaide as a destination beyond gaming.
Events and functions · 2014
SKYroom
SKYroom is an events and function space formerly known as the Pearl Room. A refurbishment associated with the venue's 2014 interior upgrade included hand-crafted glass pendant lighting commissioned from a team of 12 artists at JamFactory studios.
Brand decisions
2018
Expand into an integrated entertainment destinationStrategyBackground
The casino's expansion was planned within the Riverbank precinct redevelopment, alongside major cultural and convention facilities around Festival Plaza.
Action taken
SkyCity commenced a major expansion intended to combine gaming, hotel accommodation, dining and entertainment on the Festival Plaza forecourt.
Aftermath
Most of the redevelopment was completed in 2020 and 2021, including the opening of EOS by SkyCity, Sôl Rooftop and expanded gaming space.
Development project value. A$330 million (2021)
2013
Secure extended table-game exclusivityStrategyBackground
The casino's licence arrangements were revised to provide a longer period of exclusivity and new duty terms while supporting a larger future gaming footprint.
Action taken
Licence variations formalised on 11 October 2013 extended exclusivity for table games and automated table-game products to 30 June 2035 and increased permitted capacity subject to redevelopment.
Aftermath
The revised framework supported the later expansion of gaming and entertainment facilities, while machine gaming remained subject to competition from hotels and licensed clubs.
2000
Acquire and integrate Adelaide CasinoM&ABackground
SkyCity Entertainment Group acquired the casino during a change in South Australian licensing arrangements that removed the separation between the casino licensee and operator.
Action taken
SkyCity became the operating group and SkyCity Adelaide Pty Ltd became the new licensee.
Aftermath
The property adopted the SkyCity Adelaide name in 2001 and subsequently underwent substantial redevelopment and refurbishment.
Sources2 sources
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