Formerly known as Echo Entertainment, the Star Entertainment Group Limited had to put all operations on hold for three days. The outage happened due to planned tech upgrades, so some systems have been disrupted.
Post-upgrade testing identified some system performance issues, which is why all electronic gaming machines and electronic table games had to be switched off. Games were unavailable from July 13th until July 17th, and this affected each of the Star’s three properties. Currently, they are running three casinos in the Gold Coast, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Casino fans need not worry, as this isn’t something that typically happens in Australian online casinos. Nowadays, there are various options on the market, and all of them are reliable and offer different game types. They come from renowned online casino operators who offer unrestricted access to the biggest gambling enthusiasts, as long as they come from regulated jurisdictions.
Of course, even the best online casinos can experience technical problems and difficulties, but they usually aren’t long-lasting. These casinos have teams of professionals who are in charge of making sure everything runs smoothly, which includes removing any technical difficulties once they pop up.
Even though the Star Entertainment Group’s outage was voluntary, they still haven’t made a statement to explain what kind of ‘system performance issues’ they were facing. All the public knows is that the outage was necessary so that they could comply with regulations.
Star’s tumultuous past
The Star Entertainment Group’s regulatory issues have been an ongoing concern for quite some time. Their regulatory problems even resulted in a cashout of $2.05 million that they had to pay after running into a software problem.
New problems surfaced in May 2024, when the Group was found unqualified for having a casino license on the New South Wales territory. Bret Walker, SC, appeared for Star and told an independent inquiry that the Group isn’t going to attempt to change the decision of the NSW Independent Casino Commission.
However, he did say who’s to blame—the former chief executive and chairman. Walker claimed he didn’t support their ‘deplorable’ behavior, as he believes they had a role in agitating the casino regulator. This statement comes as a last-resort attempt to save its profitable casino in Sydney.
The latest news on the issue comes with a surprising twist—the NSW Independent Casino Commission decided to let the Group keep its casino license in the area. This comes after the extension for its special manager, Nicholas Weeks.
MGM faces similar issues
The Star Entertainment Group wasn’t the only one experiencing technical issues. The MGM Resorts faced similar issues back in September 2023, although the reason for their outage was entirely different.
MGM Resorts International is one of the biggest names in the industry, with close to 75,000 employees worldwide. They operate casinos and destination resorts in Las Vegas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maryland, and Ohio—to name a few. As a company founded in 1986, it has built a name for itself in the casino and entertainment industry.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that they would be a target of a cyberattack. What is surprising, though, is the force of the attack, which was able to go past the Resorts’ top-notch experts in the field of cybersecurity. MGM’s IT system was affected, and it brought down the company’s website, hotel room keys, and slot machines.
This wasn’t the only time MGM faced a cyberattack, as they also had one happen in 2019. This one might have been even worse, as their cloud service was breached. Consequently, hackers managed to steal 10.6 million customer records, which included names, addresses, and personal identification information.
Staying safe online
These security breaches and technical difficulties shouldn’t deter you from playing casino games, but they should serve as an important lesson on online safety. Generally speaking, registering in online casinos and playing from your laptop, mobile, or the latest Samsung flip-and-fold device is going to be risk-free, as long as you take some measures of precaution.
For starters, be careful about which casino you choose. Do extensive research, read customer testimonials, and seek word-of-mouth recommendations. Finding a few negative reviews here and there isn’t a red flag, as there isn’t a product or service that can be everyone’s cup of tea. However, if those negative reviews are related to security, then you should take them seriously.
If you don’t mind going one step further, you can always look for no-KYC casinos. These websites operate in the same manner as regular online casinos, and the only difference can be seen during the registration process. Unlike regular casinos, no-KYC casinos let you go straight to playing games, as they don’t require a verification process. You won’t have to provide your ID, which significantly ups your security.
