Frequently asked questions
Straight answers for visitors heading to 350 Gifford Street or continuing through PlayNow and Encore Rewards in BC.
350 Gifford Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 7A3 — Queensborough on the Fraser, with gaming, dining, and entertainment under one roof. Call (604) 777-2946 before you leave home. Transit, parking details, and the first-visit walkthrough are on the Locations page.
The gaming floor never closes — slots and tables run 24/7, 365 days a year. Restaurant and bar kitchens do not. You can play at 3:00 am while MATCH or Kirin may already be closed. Venue hours are on the Games and dining page.
Yes — complimentary parking in the on-site parkade and outdoor lots. RV and coach parking can be arranged on request. Call ahead on busy Friday or Saturday nights. Parkade versus outdoor lots and RV contacts are on the Locations page.
19+ in BC with valid government-issued photo ID — driver's licence, BC Services Card, passport, or equivalent. Staff check at entry and may ask again on the floor. No ID, no entry. The first-visit ID check is on the Locations page.
Arrive → ID check → optional Encore sign-up at Guest Services → floor or dining. Set a budget before you play. The floor is smoke-controlled under provincial rules. Smart-casual dress — staff can refuse entry for offensive slogans, gang-related markings, or visible intoxication. The numbered walkthrough is on the Locations page.
935 slot machines, 54 live tables (Blackjack, Double Deck BJ, Roulette, Craps, Baccarat, Four Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em), a seven-table poker room at (604) 777-3500, and 32 Solar Arena electronic stations. Four restaurants — MATCH, Kirin, RedBar Lounge, Noodles to Go — each on its own schedule. Full game mix, poker hours, and menus are on the Games and dining page.
Free BC loyalty at Starlight — Diamond, Double Diamond, Triple Diamond, and Elite tiers through rated slot and table play plus qualifying dining spend. Sign up at Guest Services with government photo ID (19+). Insert the card before slot play; hand it to the dealer at tables. Pay first, show a card after at the bar or restaurant, and the spend may not earn points — a common miss. Tier perks and happy-hour details are on the Promotions and loyalty page.
Casino happy hour runs 4:00 pm–8:00 pm on the gaming floor. MATCH runs its own happy-hour windows — different venue, different clock. Offer amounts are on the Promotions and loyalty page.
Land-based Starlight opened December 10, 2007 at 350 Gifford Street, replacing the Royal City Star paddlewheel casino moored at New Westminster Quay (1999–2007). Gateway's New Westminster gaming dates to 1992 at Royal Towers. The full timeline is on the History page.
Yes — through PlayNow under BCLC oversight, with linked Encore Rewards so Diamond through Elite tiers align with Gifford Street play. Sign-up, deposits, withdrawals, and Encore linking are on the Play online page. Phone access and install paths are on the Mobile app page.
Encore earn on PlayNow ended 15 September 2026. PlayNow redemption ends 31 October 2026, 11:59 pm PT. Encore continues at BC Gateway casinos including Starlight on-property. Details are on the Play online page and the Promotions and loyalty page.
No — this guide covers Starlight New Westminster, BC only, with Encore Rewards and the BCLC model. Gateway also runs Starlight at West Edmonton Mall in Alberta and Point Edward, Ontario — different provinces, ages, and loyalty programs (My Club Rewards in Ontario). Do not blend hours or promos across venues.
Starlight sits on Queensborough — the Fraser-side neighbourhood, not Columbia Street downtown where the old Royal Towers and riverboat eras began. Most visitors arrive by car over the Queensborough Bridge or via 22nd Street SkyTrain plus a short bus leg. Wrong-neighbourhood confusion is common; routing detail is on the Locations page.
Gambling Support BC: 1-888-795-6111 (24/7). BCLC Customer Support / GameSense Advisor: 1-866-815-0222, press 3 (7:00 am–midnight PT daily). GameSense materials are on the gaming floor. Game Break voluntary self-exclusion runs through BCLC, not Guest Services alone. Gambling is 19+ in BC. See Terms.
BC smoke-free indoor workplace rules apply — no smoking on the gaming floor or in restaurants. Designated outdoor areas only where provided. Conduct context is on the Locations page.