The poker room is closed until further notice, at least that's what I suspected and was confirmed when I rang the Star yesterday to check. I don't have a network of Star regs or employees to get the inside scoop on anything more precise than that. I assume that they will put something out on twitter or facebook when they decide to re-open, that's all I have.

Star have applied for an extra 1000 poker machines. This is currently being evaluated by State Govt. I know someone who is close to one of the decision makers for all Star operations and he provided some feedback that he got.
1. At this stage, everything is a holding pattern, and wait and see if numbers continue to drop, hospitals end up over-stretched and things relax further.
2. Under current social distancing rules, poker is not viable.
3. If they get 1000 more machines, the poker area is the frontrunner to put them in.
4. Either way, poker will relocate to a smaller area.
5. It seems a fair few dealers are now off the books, dealer training will be needed.
6. Nothing will probably happen before Easter, not worth time and effort to go before then; no hope this year.
7. Smaller room after Easter, no tournaments, no jackpot, considerably fewer tables (so much longer wait times) and no more 24/7 poker is most likely.
8. Rake will be the same, 7-handed will be table size, masks mandatory, covid vaxx status incorporated within membership card, no card-no play.
9. Cash is being phased out; money goes in/out through credit card linked to membership card. Other options later.

That's what was passed on to me. Either way, they are not too fussed about poker anymore. Well spaced poker machines make 10 times what they get for the same floor space. Policing everything is a nightmare, so everything is going through the membership card. Swipe at casino entrance, it picks up your vaxx status - in you go.

They know everyone that's in the building, what they play, their winnings & losses, tax file number, occupation - everything. No membership card on you - no entry.
Post-covid gambling will change radically; they will use it to bring in all the control changes they have been after for years. Ask around about who they have been recruiting lately, things will change radically in the next 2 years when they get up and running again.

The Star shares tank 23pc as investors fear ‘regulatory winds of change’
https://www.smh.com.au/business/comp...11-p58yzg.html

Anti-money-laundering agency obtains Star casino files as its share price dives
https://www.smh.com.au/national/anti...12-p58zct.html

Falling Star: Money-laundering allegations hit ‘cleanskin’ casino
Podcast episode (14 mins): https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR...RiZjAwMjI5NDk0

Looks like Gold Coast is going to be Australias poker hub from now on, RIP Melbourne and Sydney poker scenes…

May need to investigate Adelaide too, I hear they have a few non casino poker clubs

Sydney will be fine. It’ll come back. Too much doom and gloom

Yeah ok, Crown and Star might have governments in the palm of their hand, but when share prices cop such a battering, something needs to change.

The Star faces class action threat after $1b share price collapse
https://www.smh.com.au/business/comp...17-p590nf.html

Also worth noting, from Jan - June when Melbourne was mostly Covid free, Crown was very slow to open up poker, and when they did:
- half the tables were removed for table games
- the games were 6 handed when density limits would’ve allowed for 8 handed (like GC or Brisbane)
- they removed the online tracker of games and waiting lists

And as a result, the lines were longer than I had ever seen them. At 10:30 on a Sunday night, 1/3 and 2/5 has lists over 30 people. All the games were full of regs who got there super early in the day, and all the drunk fellas just trying to dump off their stack ended up going bust on the blackjack before they could get a table.

Would really hate to see Sydney go the same direction, but once you remove a few tables, have too strict density limits, and don’t really care about poker, it all accumulated into a bigger issue

I played a private game on the weekend with Star regs dealt by two former Star dealers.

The feedback was that the permanent poker staff didn’t get laid off this time (as opposed to in 2020) and that none of them had heard anything about plans to change the room or downgrade poker.

This would back up my intuition, in the sense that the Star invested a lot of time and energy into changing and (imo) improving the conditions and management of the room when it re-opened earlier this year.

I would expect we’ll have cash games at Star before the end of the year or by end of Jan latest

whereas the games…while on limited hours…ran smoother and easier than before at Star. And they increased and standardised the size of the game which made table selection incredible for me (as a former 5/10 player where I only had two tables to choose from)

What was PLO like when it re-opened for the brief time earlier in the year? Just realised I haven't played there in possibly coming onto 2 years.

I didn’t play it or hear about it. Sorry.

iirc, they favoured opening holdem tables when there were extra dealers

Rumours of Star Poker’s demise have been greatly exaggerated

Room to re-open in 3 weeks

This is most excellent news, assuming they don't do something to butcher the games

Wonder if it will be full ring or 6-max

It was 8 max last time which was great

Star Poker officially to re-open on Mon 8th

Games will be 12pm to 2am weekdays and 12pm to 6am on Fri and Sat

Tourneys to restart in the new year

2/5 holdem only at this stage and you’ll need to be vaxxed and wear a mask until regulations change

I won’t be going til the mask mandate changes

Thanks for the update - keen to get back onto the felt

I expect Crown Melbourne to be similar except that it should open sooner. Re masks, they already had masks earlier this year.

Surely the vax requirement for anywhere and everywhere will be short term, I fully expect some time in 2022 that all state governments end the segregation.

I wouldn't be relying on Dan Andrews changing his current stance any time soon. That said a week is a long time in politics and I guess when the daily covid toll doesn't make the news any more, he may well quietly drop it.

Crown Casino in Melbourne opened on Friday, open daily from midday till late. 6-max and mandatory masks for at least the next 3-4 weeks. And must show digital vaccine certificate before entering the casino and the poker room.

Can anyone confirm how the Star is now that it’s opened?

Smooth sailing 8-max in the usual spot with reasonable waits?

Heading to Sydney shortly and don’t want to wait in line for 3 hours if possible

Went during the week, arrived at ~11-30 am, usual Star disorganisation so despite getting called basically straight away I played my first hand at 12.20pm. Everyone could have been playing at midday but it's Star. 4 x 8 handed tables to start, they got up to about 8 tables I think when I bailed around 8pm. I don't think waiting lists got crazy at any time, maybe an hour at worst?

Only game is 2/5 NLHE with optional $10 live UTG straddle.

No table service of course.

A couple of the supervisors went around hassling people about wearing masks.

First table was pretty bad with decent regs on it, I moved to a new table and it was a dream. Nice passive table, basically like the old 2/3 game except with deeper stacks and slightly larger raise sizes.

“The Star Entertainment Group disguised as “hotel expenses” some $900 million in transactions linked to Chinese high rollers to help them circumvent rules and access cash to gamble at its flagship casino in Sydney, a NSW inquiry has heard.“

https://afr.com/companies/games-and-...0220317-p5a5l5

What are the 2/5 games like now, I hear you can buy in for 200BB?

They’re 2/5-10 (1000) and the straddle is almost always on.