Sydney Bowling Club Prevents Bally’s Corp to Trademark Name in Australia

The Balgowlah Bowling Club, fondly referred to as “The Bally” by its local community on Sydney’s northern beaches, has effectively prevented US casino giant Bally’s from trademarking its name in connection with the potential acquisition of Star Entertainment Group.

Sidney Bowling Club Blocks Bally’s Trademark Bid in Australia

Balgowlah Bowling Club, situated on Sydney’s north shore and affectionately known by locals as The Bally, now owns the trademark after Secretary Manager Tony Wagener applied to secure the name last September. According to what he told The Sydney Morning Herald, this move was purely coincidental, despite Bally’s Corp’s later involvement in the Star Entertainment Group rescue deal.  He also said that he doesn’t view any business as bigger or more important, explaining that they simply liked the name and had been trading under it, so he thought it was wise to trademark it. Wagener further added that everyone refers to the club as The Bally.

Wagener told the newspaper that he would be open to discussions with the US casino giant. If that happened, he said, they would explain that they also use the name, are an Australian company, and have been operating under it for quite some time. He emphasized that the club has no slot machines or permanent gaming facilities, describing their model as more traditional, focusing on food and beverage, live music, lawn bowls, and functions.

For those who don’t know, Lawn bowls is a sport in which players roll slightly asymmetrical balls, called bowls, across a flat, rectangular green toward a smaller white ball known as the jack. The goal is to get your bowls as close as possible to the jack. The sport is widely popular among particularly senior citizens across Australia and the UK.

Bally’s Wants to Acquire Star Entertainment Group

Bally’s Corp is spearheading the rescue deal for Star Entertainment Group, which has had some financial troubles in the past. The package that combines debt and investment to grant the US company a controlling interest in Australia’s second-largest casino operator. The proposal received approval from Star shareholders in late June 2025. However, just a couple of weeks later, the first cracks in the plan appeared as Bally’s shared concerns about Star Entertainment Group’s rescue, citing various regulatory risks.

Despite that, the deal is still being discussed. As part of the takeover and a potential rebranding of Star’s casinos in New South Wales and Queensland, Bally’s had planned to introduce its own brand in Australia. However, a local venue already holds the rights to the “Bally” name, which may compel the US firm to reconsider its branding approach.