The Star Gold Coast
An integrated casino resort, hotel, entertainment and dining complex in Broadbeach on Australia's Gold Coast.
Last updated October 25, 2026
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Overview
The Star Gold Coast is an integrated resort in Broadbeach, Queensland, combining casino gaming, hotels, restaurants, bars, live entertainment, conferences, wellness facilities and event spaces. It occupies a prominent site beside the Nerang River and is connected to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The property is operated by The Star Entertainment Group and is regulated under the Jupiters Casino Agreement Act. The resort opened on 22 November 1985 as Conrad International Hotel and Jupiters Casino. It was Queensland's first casino and, at opening, was described as Australia's largest hotel. The original development was undertaken by Jennings Construction Services at a reported cost of AU$210 million. The name Jupiters was associated with Jupiter Mosman, an Aboriginal man linked to the discovery of gold in North Queensland in 1871, while Conrad referred to Conrad Hilton and the Hilton hotel business. The property has passed through several corporate and brand eras. It was initially associated with Conrad Hotels and Jupiters Limited, became part of Tabcorp after Tabcorp's 2003 merger with Jupiters, and moved into Echo Entertainment Group's casino portfolio when Tabcorp separated and listed its casino assets in 2011. The venue was known as Jupiters Hotel & Casino from 2010 until its rebranding as The Star, Gold Coast in 2017, aligning it with the broader Star Entertainment Group portfolio. The resort's physical footprint includes multiple hotel towers, gaming areas, restaurants, bars, conference facilities, a ballroom, a theatre, a health spa and a gym. The property has been described as containing eight bars and seven restaurants, with accommodation across its hotel buildings totaling 1,171 rooms. The Star Grand is the principal hotel component with 592 rooms; The Darling contributes 56 all-suite accommodations; and the Dorsett hotel adds 313 rooms. The broader redevelopment program also included a new tower and later plans for the Epsilon development, described as a 63-storey project with hotel rooms and residential apartments. Entertainment is a central part of the resort proposition. The venue formerly produced shows in-house, but from 2008 increasingly presented touring and international productions. Its theatre underwent a reported AU$20 million expansion and refurbishment, reopening in June 2012 with capacity increased to approximately 2,000 seated guests or 2,300 for general admission. The upgraded venue added balcony seating, hospitality rooms, bars, improved accessibility, expanded backstage facilities and modern projection and stage infrastructure. The casino also has a statutory community contribution: one percent of gross gaming revenue is deposited into Queensland's Gambling Community Benefit Fund. Established in 1987 and administered by the Queensland Government, the fund supports nonprofit and community-based organizations. The property has nevertheless faced historical scrutiny involving internal controls, fraud, money laundering and security practices. These incidents form part of the resort's documented history but do not by themselves establish the current status of its operations. The Star Gold Coast remains a major tourism, hospitality and entertainment property serving visitors to the Gold Coast.
History
The Star Gold Coast originated as Conrad International Hotel and Jupiters Casino, which opened in Broadbeach on 22 November 1985. The development was built by Jennings Construction Services at a reported cost of AU$210 million and was described at the time as Australia's largest hotel. Its casino was Queensland's first, giving the property an important role in the state's tourism and gaming history. The original tower rises approximately 66 metres and contains 21 floors. The early operation linked Conrad Hotels with Jupiters Limited. The Jupiters name drew on the story of Jupiter Mosman, an Aboriginal man associated with the discovery of gold in North Queensland in 1871, while Conrad reflected the Conrad hotel brand founded by Conrad Hilton. In 2003, Jupiters was folded into Tabcorp through a corporate merger. In 2010, the property adopted the name Jupiters Hotel & Casino. In 2011, it became part of Echo Entertainment Group after Tabcorp separated and listed its casino assets. The resort was ultimately incorporated into The Star Entertainment Group's portfolio and received the The Star, Gold Coast identity in 2017. The complex developed through repeated refurbishment and expansion. A major 2006 program reportedly cost AU$53 million and enlarged and consolidated the casino floor, introduced a Gold Club room, and added restaurants, balconies and bars. By 2008, 442 hotel rooms had reportedly been refurbished at a cost of AU$16 million, alongside improvements to the lobby and front-of-house areas. The property also evolved its entertainment model. In-house show production ceased in 2008, after which the theatre presented touring and international productions including Mother Africa, ABBA Revival, Burn the Floor, Dance of Desire and STOMP. The theatre was substantially redeveloped and reopened in June 2012. The reported AU$20 million project more than doubled its capacity to about 2,000 seated guests or 2,300 in general admission configuration. The works added balcony seating, VIP hospitality rooms, new bars and toilets, a projection booth, a multipurpose thrust stage, improved disability access and expanded dressing-room facilities. This positioned the theatre as a significant live-event venue within the Gold Coast resort and convention economy. In August 2015, work commenced on a reported AU$345 million redevelopment that included a 17-storey tower. Later additions broadened the accommodation offer beyond the original hotel. The Star Grand became the largest hotel component, with 592 guest rooms; The Darling added 56 luxury suites; and the Dorsett hotel contributed 313 rooms. Taken together, the property has been described as having 1,171 rooms. The resort also includes eight bars, seven restaurants, conference facilities, a ballroom, theatre, spa and gym, and it is linked to the neighboring Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Star Gold Coast has also been associated with significant regulatory and reputational issues. A fraud scheme involving casino employees and food suppliers was reported to have generated fabricated orders and invoices between 1993 and 2001, with losses of AU$5.7 million. Court proceedings in 2009 considered allegations that senior management had tried to prevent a proper investigation and that police fraud investigators became involved in 2003. Separate investigations described the casino's use in a money-laundering operation involving welfare recipients and organized-crime syndicates between May 2006 and November 2007. The property also participated in a 2008 trial of head-mounted cameras for security staff, which raised privacy questions, and in 2009 a gaming official criticized procedures concerning excluded persons gaining entry. The resort has a statutory community-benefit obligation: one percent of gross gaming revenue is paid into Queensland's Gambling Community Benefit Fund. The fund, established in 1987 and administered by the Queensland Government, supports nonprofit and community organizations. The Star Gold Coast's current identity therefore combines casino operations with accommodation, dining, entertainment, conventions and tourism, while its development remains subject to Queensland's gaming and casino regulation.
- 2017
Rebranded as The Star Gold Coast
[1]The former Jupiters property adopted The Star Gold Coast brand.
- 2015
Major redevelopment begins
[1]Construction began on a reported AU$345 million redevelopment including a 17-storey tower.
- 2012
Theatre redevelopment completed
[1]The expanded theatre reopened with increased capacity and upgraded production, hospitality and accessibility infrastructure.
- 2011
Joins Echo Entertainment Group
[1]The casino became part of Echo Entertainment Group when Tabcorp separated its casino assets.
- 2010
Renamed Jupiters Hotel & Casino
[1]The property adopted the Jupiters Hotel & Casino name.
- 2006
Major casino refurbishment
[1]A large refurbishment consolidated the gaming floors and expanded hospitality, dining and bar facilities.
- 2003
Jupiters becomes part of Tabcorp
[1]The property entered Tabcorp's portfolio through Tabcorp's merger with Jupiters.
- 1987
Gambling Community Benefit Fund established
[1]Queensland's Gambling Community Benefit Fund was established; one percent of the casino's gross gaming revenue is directed to the fund.
- 1985
Conrad International Hotel and Jupiters Casino opens
[1]The Broadbeach resort opened on 22 November, becoming Queensland's first casino and one of Australia's largest hotel developments at the time.
Products and positioning
Integrated casino resort and entertainment destination
Casino gaming · 1985
The Star Gold Coast Casino
The resort's casino is the core gaming operation and was Queensland's first casino when the property opened in 1985. The gaming complex has been expanded and refurbished over time, including the consolidation of its gaming floors and development of premium-club hospitality areas. Its activities operate under Queensland casino legislation and the Jupiters Casino Agreement Act.
Hotel
The Star Grand
The Star Grand is the principal hotel component of the resort and has been described as providing 592 guest rooms. It forms part of the wider integrated offering, placing accommodation alongside casino gaming, dining, entertainment, conferences and other leisure services.
Luxury hotel suites
The Darling
The Darling is an all-suite accommodation component of The Star Gold Coast. The property has been described as adding 56 luxury suites to the resort's room inventory and extending its accommodation range into the premium segment.
Hotel
Dorsett Gold Coast
The Dorsett hotel adds 313 guest rooms to the resort complex. It broadens the property's accommodation capacity and supports the resort's role as a destination for leisure visitors, events and conventions.
Live entertainment venue · 1985
The Star Gold Coast Theatre
The resort theatre presents touring and international productions and underwent a major redevelopment that reopened in 2012. The venue can accommodate approximately 2,000 seated guests or about 2,300 in general admission configuration, with balcony seating, hospitality rooms, upgraded bars, improved accessibility and expanded technical facilities.
Hospitality and events · 1985
Dining, bars and events
The resort's non-gaming offer includes restaurants, bars, conference facilities, a ballroom, spa and gym. The complex has been described as containing eight bars and seven restaurants and is connected to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, supporting both tourism and business events.
Controversies
2020
The Star Gold Coast controversy note: The Star Casino fined over minors gambling at the venue
The Star Casino was fined by the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority over three incidents in which minors accessed the casino and gambled or were served alcohol. The authority imposed a total fine of $90,000 in connection with the incidents. The event was reported as a regulatory penalty concerning minors at the venue.
2009
Concerns over excluded-person controls
Queensland's acting gaming executive director criticized the casino's internal controls after concerns that people barred from the venue had been able to gain entry.
2008
Privacy concerns over security-camera trial
A trial of head-mounted cameras worn by security staff generated privacy concerns because Australian legal rules governing the recording of incident video and audio were unclear at the time.
2006
Money-laundering investigation
The casino was identified in reporting about a money-laundering operation in which welfare recipients allegedly acted for organized-crime syndicates between May 2006 and November 2007.
1995
Julian O'Neill casino incident
The venue attracted media attention after Brisbane Broncos player Julian O'Neill was reported to have urinated on the carpet beneath a blackjack table on two occasions.
1993
Food-order and invoice fraud
Between 1993 and 2001, corrupt casino staff and food suppliers were reported to have fabricated food orders and invoices, causing losses reported at AU$5.7 million. Court proceedings later examined allegations that senior management attempted to prevent a proper investigation.
Brand decisions
2017
Brand transition to The StarOtherBackground
The property had operated under the Jupiters identity for much of its history and was brought into The Star Entertainment Group's brand system.
Action taken
The resort was rebranded as The Star, Gold Coast.
Aftermath
The property became more visibly aligned with The Star's Australian casino-resort portfolio.
2015
Integrated resort redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The property pursued a major expansion to strengthen its accommodation, entertainment and resort proposition.
Action taken
Construction began on a redevelopment program including a 17-storey tower and later expanded hotel offerings.
Aftermath
The resort added or incorporated The Star Grand, The Darling and Dorsett accommodation components and expanded its overall destination format.
Redevelopment cost. AU$345 million (2015)
2012
Theatre capacity and infrastructure expansionGeneration changeBackground
The existing theatre was redeveloped to improve the guest experience and accommodate larger productions.
Action taken
The venue added balcony seating, hospitality rooms, bars, improved accessibility, a projection booth, a thrust stage and expanded dressing rooms.
Aftermath
The theatre reopened with capacity of approximately 2,000 seated guests or 2,300 for general admission.
Theatre redevelopment cost. AU$20 million (2012)
2008
Shift from in-house productions to touring entertainmentStrategyBackground
The property changed its theatre model after ending in-house show production.
Action taken
The venue focused on presenting international and touring productions, including Mother Africa, ABBA Revival, Burn the Floor, Dance of Desire and STOMP.
Aftermath
The theatre became more dependent on external touring content and later received a major capacity and infrastructure upgrade.
Recent events
- 2017
Property adopts The Star Gold Coast brand[1]
Other
The former Jupiters Hotel & Casino was rebranded as The Star, Gold Coast, bringing the property into The Star Entertainment Group's unified resort brand architecture.
- 2015
Casino redevelopment begins[1]
Product launch
Work began on a reported AU$345 million redevelopment program that included construction of a 17-storey tower and expansion of the integrated resort offering.
- 2012
Theatre redevelopment reopens with expanded capacity[1]
Product generation
Following a reported AU$20 million makeover and expansion, the theatre reopened with substantially greater capacity, new balcony seating, hospitality spaces, bars, accessibility improvements and upgraded production facilities.
- 2008
Security body-camera trial raises privacy concerns[1]
Regulation · Other
Security personnel at the casino and other venues tested head-mounted cameras capable of recording video and audio during incidents. The trial prompted privacy concerns because the legal framework governing the technology was underdeveloped.
- 2006
Jupiters property undergoes major casino refurbishment[1]
Other
A reported AU$53 million refurbishment consolidated the two gaming floors and added or upgraded club, restaurant, bar and hospitality facilities. Hotel rooms, the front office and lobby bar were also renovated.
- 1985
Conrad Jupiters Casino opens on the Gold Coast[1]
Other
Queensland's first casino opened in Broadbeach on 22 November as Conrad International Hotel and Jupiters Casino, establishing the property as a large-scale hotel and gaming resort.
Sources3 sources
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