Amid the Bell probe into The Star’s operations, the operator temporarily stopped serving free alcohol at the Star Sydney. The government inquiry uncovered that some gamblers received alcohol as an inducement which was only one of the issues flagged by the probe. Ultimately, the Bell Inquiry, which was published last year, found that the operator was not suitable for a casino license. Still, The Star was given a chance to remedy the situation and implement changes to its operations, seeking to ensure compliance and discontinuing bad practices.

Now, a new report suggests that the Star Sydney resumed serving free alcohol to high rollers. As announced by The Australian, the venue discussed the matter with the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC). The Commission revealed that the Star Sydney voluntarily stopped serving free alcohol to visitors in light of the release of the government inquiry. Yet, The Star asked the NICC on multiple occasions to resume serving alcohol and according to the latest report, the Commission didn’t object to that return but only under certain conditions.

While the Star Sydney resumed serving free alcohol for VIP patrons, the same practice won’t be allowed for the main gaming area. This is in fact in line with NICC’s view on the matter. “The Star voluntarily ceased the service of free liquor to patrons following the release of the Bell Report, but following numerous requests from The Star, the NICC has since not objected to the service of free liquor in certain circumstances,” explained the Commission.

Still, the NICC said that in the upcoming months, it will continue to monitor the matter closely. Finally, it reminded gambling operators to ensure compliance with the established rules.

The announcement comes after late last month, The Star released its FY23 financial results, posting a statutory net loss of AU$2.44 billion ($1.57 billion). At the time, the operator confirmed that it remains committed to strengthening its anti-money laundering and safer gambling policies. Further efforts toward ensuring compliance with the rules included the replacement of Board members as well.

Robbie Cooke, The Star’s group CEO and managing director, outlined that the last year was incredibly challenging for the company. Still, he highlighted the important changes to The Star’s policies that ultimately seek to protect the jobs of thousands of workers.

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Evolution, a leading provider of live casino games, has announced the launch of two new high-limit live casino tables in partnership with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) in Canada. 

Evolution’s VIP Games Bring Exclusive Gambling Experience to BCLC’s PlayNow.com

Streaming live from Evolution’s Vancouver studio, these VIP games offer an opulent and immersive gaming experience. With higher minimum bets, they cater to high rollers and VIP players looking for an exclusive online gambling experience. These tables join the existing lineup of Evolution-powered live casino games and live game shows on BCLC’s PlayNow.com platform, which includes lottery, casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, and instant games.

Jeff Millar, chief commercial officer of North America at Evolution, expressed his satisfaction with the partnership’s progress. He stated: “Our initial agreement with BCLC, over five years ago now, was instrumental in Evolution creating its Canadian live casino studio. Since then, our relationship with BCLC has gone from strength to strength. We are proud to launch these new VIP tables and confident that VIP players will be attracted by this premium online gaming experience.”

The Evolution Vancouver studio, spanning an impressive 16,000 square feet, was purpose-built to provide live casino services for BCLC. Initially offering Live Roulette, Blackjack, and Baccarat games, the studio has grown over the years, expanding its game offerings and staff. Monica Bohm, VP of eGaming at BCLC, previously highlighted the significance of Evolution’s live casino portfolio for the corporation, stating that it helps keep BCLC at the forefront of gambling entertainment while creating local employment opportunities and generating revenue to support provincial initiatives in British Columbia.

BCLC Welcomes VIP Roulette by Evolution

In addition to VIP Blackjack and VIP Baccarat, Evolution also offers VIP versions of European and French Roulette. These VIP games follow the same live casino format but feature higher wagering limits to accommodate the preferences of VIP customers.

One of the other recent additions to BCLC’s game portfolio was an instant ticket game based on the popular board game Ticket to Ride, offering players a chance to experience the Canadian railway network and win prizes up to $50,000. Developed in collaboration with Pollard Banknote, the game features artwork that captures the essence of the tabletop experience.

In April, Light & Wonder entered into a distribution agreement with ReelPlay, allowing the latter to supply its games to the BCLC. Hypernova Megaways was the first game to be featured in the BCLC’s content portfolio, with more games expected to be added in the future, showcasing Light & Wonder’s commitment to supporting independent studios.

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