The Christmas Island Casino was a luxury resort and high-stakes gambling facility that operated on Christmas Island, an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, from approximately 1993 until its permanent closure in 1998. The resort offered table games, pokies, and upscale accommodation aimed at attracting high-rollers primarily from Asian markets. Today, the casino building sits abandoned between the island's rainforest and beach, its roulette tables and gaming equipment left in place as the structure deteriorates. No gambling services operate on Christmas Island in 2026, and visitors looking for an active casino destination will find only a derelict building occasionally accessible for exploration but offering zero commercial gambling or resort amenities.
The Christmas Island Resort and Casino represents a short-lived experiment in destination gambling under Australian jurisdiction rather than a current tourism option. Understanding what the casino was during its operational years, why it closed after roughly four to five years, and what physically remains today clarifies the gap between what searchers might expect and the reality of this abandoned property.
| Period | What Existed | Gambling Available | Visitor Access | Key Reality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operational Era (approx. 1993-1998) | Luxury resort with casino floor featuring table games (roulette, card games), pokies, high-roller facilities, guest rooms, and resort amenities marketed primarily to Asian gamblers | Full casino services with high-stakes gambling under Australian territory jurisdiction | Resort guests and casino patrons during commercial operation | Operated only four to five years before permanent closure in 1998, never achieving sustained profitability despite initial ambitions |
| Post-Closure (1998-present) | Abandoned building structure between rainforest and beach containing derelict gaming equipment, roulette tables, pokies, and deteriorating former guest rooms | None—no gambling services of any kind operate | Building sometimes accessible for exploration; no commercial tours, accommodation, or organised visitor services at the casino site itself | Completely non-functional as a resort or gambling venue; the physical structure remains but all commercial operations ceased permanently in 1998 |
| Christmas Island Today (2026) | The island functions primarily as an Australian immigration detention facility location and nature tourism destination (red crab migration, diving, birdwatching); no casino or gambling facilities operate anywhere on the island | No licensed gambling venues or services; Australians seeking casino gambling must travel to mainland Australia or other jurisdictions | General tourism to Christmas Island continues via flights from Perth; the abandoned casino may be visitable depending on access conditions, but it is not a commercial attraction | Periodic proposals to reopen the casino have not resulted in any restoration or commercial revival; the island's economy now centres on government operations and limited eco-tourism rather than gambling |
What the Christmas Island Casino Was and Why It Closed
The Christmas Island Resort opened in the early-to-mid 1990s as a purpose-built luxury gambling destination on Christmas Island, an Australian external territory located in the Indian Ocean approximately 2,600 kilometres northwest of Perth. The resort's casino floor featured roulette tables, card games, and rows of poker machines, with the entire operation designed to attract high-stakes gamblers primarily from Asian markets including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Because Christmas Island operates under Australian jurisdiction but sits geographically closer to Indonesia than to mainland Australia, developers viewed the location as strategically positioned to capture regional gambling demand in an era before widespread Asian casino expansion.
The resort complex itself occupied a coastal site wedged between the island's dense rainforest and beach, with guest accommodation integrated alongside the casino facilities. Promotional materials from the 1990s positioned the Christmas Island Casino as an exclusive high-roller destination offering both gambling services and tropical resort amenities. The property operated under Australian territory regulations rather than as an offshore or unlicensed facility, meaning it functioned as a legitimate gambling venue within Australia's legal framework during its operational period.
Despite its initial ambitions, the Christmas Island Casino operated for only approximately four to five years before closing permanently in 1998. Multiple factors contributed to the closure. The property's extreme geographic isolation created significant logistical and operational challenges, with all supplies, staff, and guests requiring transport via infrequent flights or sea cargo to an island with minimal existing infrastructure. The target market of Asian high-rollers proved difficult to sustain, particularly as regional casino competition increased throughout the 1990s with major developments in Macau, Malaysia, and Australia itself.
Financial viability remained elusive throughout the casino's short operational life. While some accounts have characterised the Christmas Island Casino as having been among the most profitable casinos globally during its brief peak, the facility's inability to sustain operations beyond four years demonstrates that any early revenue success did not translate into long-term commercial survival. The operational costs of maintaining a luxury resort and casino on an isolated island with limited supporting infrastructure ultimately exceeded the revenue the property could generate from its narrow high-roller clientele.
By 1998, the Christmas Island Resort and Casino ceased all operations and was abandoned. Unlike temporary closures for renovation or seasonal operation, the 1998 shutdown proved permanent, with no subsequent reopening despite periodic proposals and studies examining the feasibility of reviving the property. The closure left Christmas Island without any gambling facilities, a situation that persists in 2026.
Proposals to Reopen the Casino
Following the casino's closure, various proposals have emerged over the years to restore and reopen the Christmas Island gambling facility. In 2014, a parliamentary development committee recommended that the Christmas Island high-roller casino should reopen, suggesting that a reopened casino could transform the island into a modern tourist and holiday destination with potential for further economic development. Proponents of reopening have argued that the existing casino infrastructure, despite its deteriorated condition, represents a foundation for reviving destination gambling tourism to the island.
None of these proposals have resulted in actual restoration or commercial revival of the casino property. The fundamental challenges that contributed to the original closure—geographic isolation, high operational costs, limited supporting infrastructure, and intense regional casino competition—remain unchanged. As of 2026, the Christmas Island Casino building continues to sit abandoned with no active plans for reopening having progressed beyond the proposal stage.
What Remains Today and What Christmas Island Offers Visitors Now
The physical structure of the Christmas Island Casino remains standing at its original location between the island's rainforest and coastline. The building itself has become a deteriorating relic, with gaming equipment including roulette tables and poker machines still present inside the abandoned facility. Former guest rooms, public areas, and the casino floor exist in various states of decay, with the tropical environment gradually reclaiming the unoccupied structure. The site has become a subject of interest for urban exploration documentation and photography, with images and videos of the abandoned casino circulating online showing the preserved-in-time quality of the derelict gaming floor.
Visitors to Christmas Island can sometimes access the abandoned casino building for exploration, though no commercial tours, official visitor services, or organised access operate at the site. The building's accessibility depends on current conditions, safety considerations, and whether the property is secured or restricted at any given time. Anyone considering visiting the abandoned casino should understand that the structure offers no amenities, supervision, or maintained facilities. The building exists as an industrial ruin rather than a tourist attraction, and exploring abandoned buildings carries inherent safety risks including structural instability, hazardous materials, and lack of emergency services proximity.
Christmas Island itself remains accessible to visitors via flights from Perth, Western Australia, operated by scheduled airline services. The island's current tourism industry focuses primarily on nature-based experiences rather than gambling or resort holidays. Christmas Island's main attractions include the annual red crab migration when millions of red crabs move from rainforest to coast to spawn, creating one of the natural world's most dramatic wildlife spectacles. The island also offers diving and snorkelling in surrounding waters, birdwatching opportunities for endemic and migratory species, and bushwalking through tropical rainforest.
The island's economy and infrastructure today centre significantly on Australian government operations, particularly immigration detention facilities that have operated on Christmas Island for extended periods. This government presence provides employment and economic activity but also shapes the island's character and available services for general visitors. Tourist accommodation on Christmas Island consists of small hotels, lodges, and guesthouses unrelated to the abandoned casino property, with visitor services remaining limited compared to more developed Australian tourism destinations.
No Gambling Services Available on Christmas Island
Christmas Island has no operating gambling venues or services of any kind in 2026. The abandoned casino offers no gambling, and no alternative licensed gambling facilities have opened on the island since the casino's 1998 closure. Visitors to Christmas Island seeking poker machines, table games, sports betting, or any other form of gambling will find no legal options available on the island itself.
Australians wanting to gamble at a casino must travel to mainland Australia, where licensed casinos operate in major cities including Melbourne (Crown Casino), Sydney (The Star), Perth (Crown Perth), Adelaide (SkyCity Adelaide), Brisbane (The Star Brisbane), Gold Coast (The Star Gold Coast), Canberra (Canberra Casino), Darwin (SkyCity Darwin), Hobart (Wrest Point), and Launceston (Country Club Tasmania). These mainland venues operate under state and territory gambling regulations with established responsible gambling frameworks, consumer protections, and dispute resolution mechanisms that apply to Australian-licensed gambling providers.
The Christmas Island Casino should not be confused with offshore online casinos that may use island-related names or branding. The Christmas Island Casino was a physical land-based resort and gambling facility operating under Australian jurisdiction on Australian territory. It has no connection to offshore gambling websites that operate outside Australian licensing frameworks, and its name should not be interpreted as indicating any current online gambling service or licensed Australian online casino option.
Planning a Visit to Christmas Island
Travellers interested in visiting Christmas Island for its nature tourism offerings or to see the abandoned casino as an historical curiosity should plan accordingly. The island's isolation means visitor services remain limited, and trip planning requires more preparation than visiting mainstream Australian destinations. Accommodation should be booked well in advance, particularly during the red crab migration season when visitor demand peaks. Flight options from Perth are limited, with schedules changing seasonally, so confirming current air service and booking flights early is essential.
Visitors specifically interested in the abandoned casino building should understand that the site offers no formal tours, interpretation, or visitor facilities. The building's condition continues to deteriorate, and access may be restricted or impossible depending on current property status and safety conditions. Photography and exploration of abandoned structures should only be undertaken with appropriate safety precautions and respect for property boundaries. The abandoned casino is not Christmas Island's primary attraction, and visitors should focus trip planning on the island's natural environment and wildlife experiences rather than gambling nostalgia.
Christmas Island operates on Christmas Island Time, which is GMT+7, placing it 90 minutes behind Western Australian time and significantly out of sync with Australian eastern states. The island's tropical climate brings high temperatures and humidity year-round, with a monsoon season from December to April. Visitors should prepare for remote tropical conditions including limited shopping and dining options, basic medical facilities, and minimal entertainment infrastructure compared to mainland Australian tourism centres.
Can you gamble at the Christmas Island Casino today?
No. The Christmas Island Casino has been permanently closed and abandoned since 1998. No gambling services operate at the abandoned casino building or anywhere else on Christmas Island. The property exists only as a derelict structure with no commercial operations.
When did the Christmas Island Casino operate?
The Christmas Island Resort and Casino operated from approximately 1993 until its permanent closure in 1998, giving it a commercial lifespan of only four to five years. The property never reopened after the 1998 shutdown.
Can you visit the abandoned Christmas Island Casino building?
The abandoned casino building sometimes remains accessible for exploration, though no official tours or commercial visitor services operate at the site. Access depends on current property conditions and restrictions. Visitors should exercise caution as the structure is deteriorating and offers no safety infrastructure or supervision.
Why did the Christmas Island Casino close?
The casino closed in 1998 after approximately four years of operation due to unsustainable operational costs, extreme geographic isolation, logistical challenges, and insufficient high-roller clientele to maintain profitability. The costs of operating a luxury resort casino on a remote island exceeded the revenue it could generate.
Are there any gambling options on Christmas Island now?
No. Christmas Island has no licensed gambling venues or services of any kind in 2026. Australians seeking casino gambling must travel to mainland Australia or other jurisdictions with licensed casino facilities.
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