System glitch forces Star Entertainment to suspend electronic gaming services

Star Entertainment Group has announced the temporary shutdown of all electronic gaming machines (EGMs) and electronic table games (ETGs) at its casinos. This action came after disruptions were detected during post-upgrade testing, which was part of implementing cashless gaming systems.

Earlier this week, Star Entertainment identified performance problems in its systems during the testing phase after scheduled upgrades. This led to the decision to disable all EGMs and ETGs across their three properties: The Star Sydney, The Treasury Brisbane, and The Star Gold Coast. The company’s filing to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on a few days later highlighted these issues and its commitment to resolving them swiftly.

The decision to halt electronic gaming operations was made to comply with regulatory standards and uphold the company’s commitment to safe gambling practices. Star Entertainment said in a statement, “Certain of The Star’s systems have been disrupted due to system performance issues identified in post-upgrade testing, which resulted in the decision to switch off all electronic gaming machines and electronic table games in each of The Star’s three properties from 10 pm onwards on 13 July 2024 until the issue is resolved.”

Star Entertainment is actively working with Konami Gaming, its external system provider, to address and rectify the operational issues. The company has assured stakeholders and patrons that updates will be provided as soon as normal operations resume.

Continued non-gaming services

Despite the suspension of electronic gaming activities, all three casino properties remain open to the public and offer table games, dining, and entertainment services. The non-gaming amenities continue operating as usual, ensuring guests can still enjoy other aspects of the casino resorts. The announcement has impacted Star Entertainment’s share price, which fell nearly 1.0 percent in the morning trading on 15 July. Over the past year, the company’s shares have declined, dropping by 49.7 percent. The recent system issues have added to the challenges faced by the company, which has been under scrutiny following regulatory probes.

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