The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) reported that in 2023-24 it took 88 disciplinary actions against gambling licensees and employees, and began implementing a new risk-based, intelligence-led regulatory approach. The regulator also advanced on its zero-tolerance policy for betting on or by minors.
Tabled in Victoria’s Parliament on Thursday, November 28, the VGCCC annual report “demonstrates a commitment to ensuring gambling providers not only live up to the letter of the law but abide by its spirit,” according to the commission.
Fran Thorn, VGCCC Chair, said: “Our regulatory response is proportionate to the risks posed and harms caused when a gambling operator fails to comply with its obligations. We have no tolerance for deliberate or opportunistic contraventions of the law and will not hesitate to take appropriate action when we detect a breach.”
During the year, the VGCCC undertook more than 1,600 audits, completed 2,770 inspections of venues across the state, including a regional blitz, and brought 10 successful prosecutions.
Disciplinary action was taken against various licensees, including Tabcorp and the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH). These actions included fining:
- Tabcorp $1 million for repeated failure to comply with directions during a VGCCC investigation into a major system outage
- ALH $480,000 for operating poker machines at 8 venues outside of nominated trading hours and failing to observe mandatory shutdown periods
- Myndit Pty Ltd, the former operator of the Rye Hotel, $80,000 for multiple breaches of cheque payment and financial record-keeping requirements. On one occasion, Myndit paid a cheque for poker machine winnings to a person who was not in the venue at the time the winnings were accrued.
Thorn highlighted the success of the VGCCC’s new tip-off function, which makes it easier for members of the public to anonymously report inappropriate or suspicious conduct. “In the first year, we received more than 260 tip-offs across a range of issues,” she said.
Following an online complaint from a member of the public, the VGCCC investigated and prosecuted Bluebet Pty Ltd for illegally displaying gambling advertising on a public road. The company was found guilty of 43 charges and fined $50,000.
Thorn also detailed that the VGCCC also worked with the AFL to implement tighter controls for Brownlow Medal voting and betting following reports that an umpire allegedly leaked the results of round-by-round voting in 2022.
“And in response to community concerns, we engaged with sports controlling bodies to successfully ban betting in Victoria on all under-19 sporting competitions and the performance of individual players under the age of 18 in junior and senior sports,” she noted.
In March 2024, after 2 years under the supervision of the government-appointed Special Manager, the VGCCC determined Crown Melbourne was fit to hold the casino license. “The license comes with strict operating conditions, including that Crown continue its reform program under a 3-year Transformation Plan against which it will be held to account,” Thorn said.
“We have a responsibility to ensure gambling activities in Victoria are conducted in compliance with regulatory obligations and providers operate safely, fairly and with integrity,” she concluded.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2024/12/04/87485-australia-victoria-gambling-regulator-highlights-88-disciplinary-actions-taken-in-202324-report
