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THE STAR SYDNEY’S LEADERSHIP TEAM ACHIEVES EQUAL GENDER REPRESENTATION

Published

4 years ago

November 15, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Star Sydney leadership team has reached a 50/50 split of men and women following two recent appointments to
the executive group reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The Star Entertainment Group has a target of 45% women and 45% men representation in leadership roles across its
properties in Sydney and Queensland, while the remaining 10% reflects scope for any gender identity, including non-binary gender identities.

The result also signals the success of an ongoing commitment to improvement in gender representation. Five years
ago, the equivalent leadership team at The Star Sydney comprised 23% women.

The Star Sydney’s COO, Damian Quayle said that achieving gender equality in the leadership team was the result of a
focused effort including the development of a talent acquisition and recruitment pipeline, fostering an inclusive and
diverse work environment and implementing a group-wide gender equality strategy.

“I am incredibly proud to say that my leadership team reflects a more balanced representation of genders, of our
workforce, of our community and the millions of guests we welcome each year,” Mr Quayle said.

“I wholeheartedly believe that equal representation drives better teamwork, a wider base of experience to drawn upon
and ultimately greater performance.”

The Star Entertainment Group’s Chief People and Performance Officer, Kim Lee added, “We recognise that diversity –
of genders, different cultural backgrounds, experiences and ideas is critical to creating a welcoming environment for
our guests and team members. With more women being elevated to senior roles than ever, The Star is on track to
meet its targets.”

Following the appointments of Sandra Thefs and Christina Lambert, the team now comprises three women and three
men.

Speaking of the two appointments, Mr Quayle said: “Sandra adds over 25 years’ experience in the gaming industry to
the team. She most recently spearheaded delivery of Sovereign, The Star Sydney’s $250 million premium
entertainment and gaming venue.

“Since taking on the role as Director of Hotels, Christina has truly excelled. She has led The Darling Sydney in
maintaining its pre-eminent position as the only luxury hotel to receive the coveted Forbes’ Five Star award. She is now
also responsible for developing a program that ensures that level of service and guest experience is delivered across
our entire property.”

Sandra Thefs, who has been with The Star since 1995 – first as a dealer at Treasury Brisbane, then venturing south for
the launch of ‘Star City’ in 1997 said a strong network of advocates were key to her progression.

“Throughout my time with The Star, I have always been supported in my ambitions to progress my career by my peers
and my managers,” she said. “They instilled the confidence I needed and encouraged me to take up opportunities I
might not have otherwise pursued.

”As Chair of Balance at The Star, our gender equality network, I have seen firsthand the progress we have made in a
short space of time.

“Although there is more work to be done to achieve parity across the board, we have clear direction from our Executive
team, a newly released gender equality strategy to help our targets and a committed workforce all working towards the
same goal.”

The Star Sydney’s Director of Hotel and Guest Experiences, Christina Lambert, said she is thrilled to be part of a
leadership group that values equity, diversity, and inclusion.

“I have had the pleasure of leading The Star Sydney’s hotel team over the last two years, and excited to extend my role
into guest experience across the property,” Ms Lambert said.

“It is important for me to see a balanced representation of genders in our teams, and I’m grateful to be part of that and
ensuring it is reflected across all levels of The Star’s operations.”

Sandra and Christina join Samantha Apps on The Star Sydney‘s leadership team.

Ms Apps joined The Star Entertainment Group in 2017 as General Manager, Group Procurement where she led the
transformation of that function, increasing benefits delivery by 150% over her first two years.

She moved into The Star Sydney’s leadership team in February 2021 as General Manager, Hospitality and Group
Supply Chain. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Ms Apps is an active ally and member of the ‘Proud at
The Star’ committee that champions a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for LGBTQI+ team members and
guests, and NSW state representative on Chief Executive Women’s Connect Committee that supports the pathway to
the C-Suite for talented women across Australia.

David Mann Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt

Swintt bring players four times the fun in Lucky Fortune Door Wild

Published

13 hours ago

November 6, 2025

George Miller

swintt-bring-players-four-times-the-fun-in-lucky-fortune-door-wild

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Sought-after software provider’s enhanced Premium release sees players step into the glow of the Far East as wild symbols and Quadspins combine for huge rewards

With Swintt having already opened the way to a world of wonder in the original Lucky Fortune Door, this month the award-winning software provider is back in action again with Lucky Fortune Door Wild – an exciting reboot that gives players even more ways to win!

Like its SwinttPremium predecessor, Lucky Fortune Door Wild is a five-reel slot that can be played with either five or ten paylines. Boasting an engaging Far East theme, the slot combines dragons, yin and yang pendants and coins with new golden ingot wilds that substitute for all other symbols.

The good news for fans of the original game is that the slot’s signature Quadspin mechanic again makes a welcome return. Activated whenever a win of at least 4x the bet is triggered, players will have the choice to either claim their current prize or gamble a portion of it to activate Quadspins.

Should they decide for the latter option, the gameboard will be divided into four separate reel sets to potentially quadruple the prizes on offer – and of course, with substitute wilds now also in play, the chances of players landing the slot’s maximum 6,000x win multiplier will be greatly increased.

As a further incentive, during Quadspins, an extra mystery symbol is also added to the reels. Should any instances of this icon appear on any of the four reel sets, they will be replaced by a random matching symbol to create additional payline wins and generate potentially huge prizes.

On top of this, should players continue to land wins of 4x their bet or greater during Quadspins, they can elect to remain in the feature for longer. With a maximum of 50 Quadspin available per set, the odds of them embarking on a prolonged winning streak are, therefore, much more likely.

To cap it off, all wins in Lucky Fortune Door Wild are paid from both left-to-right and right-to-left, meaning that no matter how aggressively players choose to play, fortune is only ever a spin away.

David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt, said: “With Swintt’s signature Quadspin mechanic proving a hugely popular addition to our Premium line-up, we’re delighted to be giving the feature another outing in Lucky Fortune Door Wild. Offering the same great gameplay as the original release but now with added wilds, it’s sure to be a big hit with players and operators alike.”

The post Swintt bring players four times the fun in Lucky Fortune Door Wild appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

18Peaches

18Peaches’ Squid Gold X2 plunges players into a mystical treasure hunt

Published

15 hours ago

November 6, 2025

George Miller

18peaches’-squid-gold-x2-plunges-players-into-a-mystical-treasure-hunt

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Squid Gold X2 by 18Peaches invites players to dive deep into a world of mystery, magic and forgotten riches. Set within a sacred castle filled with ancient relics and hidden chambers, every spin feels like a step deeper into the unknown. The legendary golden squid is said to guard untold fortunes, and only the bravest adventurers will uncover its secrets.

The journey plays out across a 5×5 grid with 50 paylines, where expanding reels can unlock up to 100 paylines for even greater rewards.

With enchanting artifacts, secret rooms, and the electrifying Squid 500 feature, no spin ever feels ordinary. Add in Free Spins, Wild expansions and instant bonus access via Buy Bonus, and Squid Gold X2 becomes a pulse-raising treasure hunt built for thrill-seekers.

“With Squid Gold X2, our goal was to create a journey where every spin feels like a step closer to unlocking a forgotten legend,” says 18Peaches Chief Strategy Officer Arsen Tadevosyan. “We designed mechanics like Squid 500 and the X2 expanding reels to build momentum, each trigger feels like a gate opening, both visually and emotionally. It’s that feeling of chasing something mythical, where every feature builds anticipation and drives you deeper into the experience.”

“When reels expand, paylines double, and the chamber glows with energy, players feel the story unfolding through mechanics. That flow, the rise in tension, the surge of possibility, is what makes Squid Gold X2 such a captivating adventure.”

As with all 18Peaches’ releases, Squid Gold X2 is bursting with features that keep every moment alive. The highlight is the legendary Squid 500 mechanic.

Whenever a Wild lands and expands, it triggers the sacred Golden Gate, unlocking hidden energy within the castle walls. As the gate opens, the power of the golden squid surges through the reels, doubling your paylines and dramatically boosting winning potential.

There’s also our X2 Mechanic. During bonus rounds, when the Golden Gate rises it reveals additional rows, expanding the grid and transforming 50 paylines into a breathtaking 100-line battlefield of rewards.

Squid Gold X2 is the latest addition to 18Peaches’ fast-growing catalogue of hit titles that continue to resonate with modern players. Recent successes such as Leprechaun Jackpot Collector, Monster Load-Up Hold & Win, and the high-adrenaline Hacker Crash Jackpot have firmly established the studio as a creator of distinctive, high-engagement experiences.

As with all 18Peaches titles, Squid Gold X2 is built for effortless market deployment. The platform supports Sweepstakes and Free Rounds via API, enabling operators to easily tailor promotional strategies across diverse regulatory environments.

The post 18Peaches’ Squid Gold X2 plunges players into a mystical treasure hunt appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Booming Games

Booming Games Takes Players Sky-High with Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme 10,000

Published

15 hours ago

November 6, 2025

George Miller

booming-games-takes-players-sky-high-with-thunder-eagle-hold-and-win-extreme-10,000

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Take to the skies and soar like an eagle, then swoop in and grab big wins by spinning the reels of Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme from Booming Games. This action-packed, feature-filled slot is a wild adventure with a chance to win up to 10,000x.

Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme is a 5×3, 25-fixed payline slot. The winning fun takes off when multiplier prize symbols land in the base game for a chance to trigger the Eagle Bonus feature that awards a spin on the Bonus Wheel, which can award Multiplier prize collect, Mini, Minor or Major Prize Pots or even an instant Hold and Win Extreme Bonus.

Hold and Win Extreme features four 3×5 grids and 3 Respins. Land multiplier prize symbols to unlock the other grids. Completing a grid will award a x2 Win Multiplier to all symbols or landing all 60 positions to complete all found grids award the majestic Grand Prize Pot worth 10,000x!

Play Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme and fly to new heights!

Craig Asling, Director at Booming Games, said: “With Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme, we wanted to take our popular Hold and Win format to new heights, both literally and figuratively. This game delivers an exhilarating experience with powerful visuals, immersive gameplay and incredible win potential up to 10,000x. It’s a perfect example of how Booming Games continues to innovate while keeping players fully engaged.”

The post Booming Games Takes Players Sky-High with Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme 10,000 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.