A middle-aged Chinese woman in smart sweats slaps a thick wad of $50 notes on a freshly carpeted baccarat table. The young dealer expertly and patiently counts the pile of crisp notes – $5000.

The wad is a jarring site for a humble journalist not used to getting access to the high-roller room at a major casino. But it barely raises an eyebrow in the Sovereign Room of the new Star casino at the Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane – reserved for the gaming giant’s platinum members.