The township of Casino is located on the banks of the Richmond River, one of the largest coastal rivers in northern New South Wales. The river flows in a general north-south direction from its source in the McPherson Ranges on the Queensland-New South Wales border and passes through Casino before reaching its confluence with Wilsons River at Coraki. Downstream of Coraki, the Richmond River flows through the towns of Woodburn, Broadwater and Wardell before discharging into the Pacific Ocean at Ballina. The catchment, which drains an area of approximately 1,800 square kilometres to Casino, is characterised by forests in the steeper upper areas and pastures in the remainder. The largest tributary is Eden Creek, which starts on the Richmond Range on the western edge of the catchment and flows in a south-easterly direction joining the Richmond River 26km upstream of Casino.

The primary objective of the Casino Floodplain Risk Management Study is to provide information that will lead to the formulation of a Floodplain Risk Management Plan for Casino.