Star Brisbane Delays 2025 Brisbane Champs Due to Workers Strike

Lucas Dunn
By: Lucas Dunn
Jul 10, 2025
World
The Star Brisbane

Photo by Pexels, CC0 1.0

Key Takeaways

  • The postponement is for the safety of players and commitment to event quality
  • Qualifying players will be reimbursed
  • The rescheduled tournament dates have yet to be confirmed

The Star Brisbane's 2025 Brisbane Champs poker tournament, slated to launch this week with 18 tournaments over 12 days, has been suspended indefinitely as casino workers escalate strike action. Parent company  Star Entertainment Group cited operational uncertainties linked to the labor dispute, prioritizing attendees' safety and event quality.

The Brisbane Champs, a major poker series that draws local and international players, is one of the World Poker Tour events run by Star Entertainment, also held in its Sydney and Gold Coast properties. New dates for the postponed series have yet to be announced pending resolution of negotiations between staff and management.

Labor Standoff

The United Workers Union, which represents Star Brisbane workers, has intensified pressure on Star Entertainment through the coordinated strikes. Employees are contesting proposed wage reductions, lower weekend penalty rates, and a three-year wage offer they claim fails to offset inflation. Workers overwhelmingly rejected a 4% annual pay increase package, arguing it would effectively slash real earnings when combined with Sunday rate cuts.

Industrial action reached a critical point when staff walked off their posts for four hours during the lucrative Stage of Origin finale, a move meant to maximize operational disruption. The escalation follows months of deadlocked negotiations over remuneration structures, with union representatives accusing management of disregarding frontline workers' financial pressures.

The casino operator confirmed the labor impasse has compromised the venue's readiness, necessitating a delay in the poker championship to ensure participant safety and event prestige. Both parties remain at odds, with no immediate resolution in sight.

Player Compensation Plan

Star Entertainment will issue cash reimbursements to participants who qualified for the Main Event through satellite tournaments. The casino operator will directly contact affected players to process entry fee refunds. Hotel bookings linked to the postponed tournament will also be fully refunded, and customer service teams are currently expediting reimbursement requests.

Despite the operational setback, the company reaffirmed its dedication to premium event standards. "Delivering a world-class player experience is our top priority," Star emphasized, pledging to uphold quality benchmarks when the championship reschedules.

Broader Company Issues

The tournament postponement unfolds at a sensitive time for Star Entertainment, as it holds negotiations with Hong Kong conglomerates Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium regarding The Star Brisbane's potential divestment.

While Brisbane's schedule falters, Star reinforces its industry standing through uninterrupted poker offerings elsewhere. The World Poker Tour events at its Gold Coast and Sydney venues remain unaffected, and the WSOP Circuit at The Star Sydney, held each November, is also expected to continue without a hitch.

Lucas Michael Dunn is a prolific iGaming content writer with 8+ years of experience dissecting it all, from game and casino reviews to industry news, blogs, and guides. A psychology graduate and painter that transitioned into the iGaming world, his articles depend on proven data and tested insights to educate readers on the best gambling approaches. Beyond iGaming content craftsmanship, Lucas is an avid advocate for responsible play, focusing on empowering players to strike a balance between thrill and informed choices.