Australia
Regulating the Game 2025 Sydney Conference Concluded
The Regulating the Game 2025 Sydney conference has officially concluded. Over the three days, global regulators, industry leaders, policymakers, researchers and compliance professionals gathered at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.
With an unparalleled lineup of expert speakers, masterclasses, and panel discussions, the event reinforced its position as the must-attend conference for gambling regulation and compliance professionals.
From Michael Phelan APM’s keynote on the battle against organised crime to Bo Bernhard’s exploration of the “Fun Economy”, attendees were challenged to rethink conventional approaches and explore innovative solutions.
Crown Resorts CEO David Tsai led a compelling discussion on Crown’s pioneering PlaySafe solution, positioning the company as a global leader in safer gambling innovation. His insights reinforced the need for proactive, technology-driven approaches to responsible gambling and regulatory excellence.
Other high-impact sessions featured:
• Titus O’Reily on the rise, fall, and resurgence of sports gambling in Australia.
• Dr Ron Ben-David (VGCCC) offering an unfiltered perspective on the evolving landscape, responsibilities and challenges facing regulators today.
• Professor Alison Taylor on building an ethical corporate culture.
• Brendan Thomas, CEO, AUSTRAC, on AML and financial crime risks, regulatory expectations and the work still to be done.
• Barni Evans (CEO, Sportsbet) with a walk through wagering history, acknowledging missteps and discussing the industry’s future direction.
As technology continues to reshape the gambling sector, discussions on RegTech, AI, cashless gaming and cybersecurity dominated the agenda. Experts including Ian Hughes, Jamieson O’Reilly, Tracy Schrans, Jay Robinson, Donata Szabo and Elizabeth Lusk explored the risks and opportunities presented by emerging technologies, outlining how regulatory frameworks must evolve to maintain integrity while embracing innovation.
The Artificial Intelligence Panel, led by Christopher Logan from Amazon Web Services, examined AI’s role in the future of betting, compliance, and risk mitigation, sparking valuable discourse on security, privacy and regulatory oversight.
One of the most anticipated segments of RTG 2025, Pitch! provided a platform for innovators to showcase game-changing research, technology and compliance solutions. The event, hosted by Rob Lopez from Norths Collective, culminated in a thrilling Pitch! Challenge, where Focal Research Consultants’ Focal Go solution emerged as the winning innovation, underscoring the power of data-driven approaches in enhancing responsible gambling outcomes.
RTG 2025 Sydney wasn’t just about insights—it was about connections. With networking events at iconic Sydney venues, including Dean & Nancy on 22 and Alpha, delegates forged new partnerships that will drive future collaborations and strengthen regulatory and industry ties.
The post Regulating the Game 2025 Sydney Conference Concluded appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australia
IGS Awarded 15-Year Electronic Gaming Machine Monitoring Licence in Victoria
Bally’s Intralot S.A. (Bally’s Intralot) has announced that its Australian subsidiary, Intralot Gaming Services (IGS) has been awarded a new 15-year Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) Monitoring Licence for the State of Victoria, effective 16 August 2027.
This landmark award positions Bally’s Intralot to deliver a new generation of technology, transparency and collaboration to one of the world’s most mature and highly regulated gaming markets.
Approximately 26,300 EGMs will be connected to the Monitoring System which will provide a vital role in ensuring the ongoing integrity of EGM transactions in gaming venues. It will also provide data and information on EGMs for regulatory, harm minimisation, taxation and research purposes.
Under the licence, IGS will also be responsible for the delivery, operation and maintenance of the statewide Pre-commitment System for all EGMs in Victoria, including 2628 EGMs at the Melbourne casino.
A New Technology Era for Victoria
IGS will deploy a next-generation, cloud-enabled monitoring platform designed to deliver:
• Real-time monitoring and reporting
• Advanced data analytics capabilities
• Best-in-class cybersecurity protections
• Scalable architecture to support evolving regulatory requirements
• Future-ready integration enabling seamless connectivity with venues, manufacturers and regulatory systems
“This award represents a major milestone for Bally’s Intralot and IGS and is a significant investment in the future of Victoria’s gaming technology infrastructure. We look forward to working with the Victorian Government, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, and industry stakeholders to deliver a secure and transparent monitoring system that supports integrity and player protection,” said Robeson Reeves, CEO of the Bally’s Intralot Group.
IGS and Bally’s Intralot will commence planning and stakeholder engagement in the coming months to support a carefully managed, smooth and seamless transition.
The post IGS Awarded 15-Year Electronic Gaming Machine Monitoring Licence in Victoria appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Australia
RWA: Gambling Ad Crackdown Threatens Shift Offshore
Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) has voiced deep disappointment over the Federal Government’s decision to further restrict gambling advertising without industry consultation. The group is now seeking urgent clarity to understand the full impact on the sector.
RWA CEO Kai Cantwell said their members have a track record of supporting and leading sensible and evidence based reform.
“We acknowledge advertising levels were too high in the past but we’ve listened and we’ve acted by taking steps to significantly reduce the total volume of ads” Mr Cantwell said.
“Beyond advertising, we have supported major reforms including the implementation of BetStop and strengthened consumer protection measures across the system.
“But this announcement, with no heads up and no genuine consultation, is a real kick in the guts for the industry.
“This sector contributes almost $6 billion to the Australian economy, supports around 30,000 jobs, and provides critical funding to sport, racing and broadcast industries across the country.”
“Decisions of this scale must be evidence based and developed with industry to avoid unintended consequences.
“For an industry that has engaged in good faith and delivered meaningful reform, this announcement today is disappointing.
“This sets a dangerous precedent. Today it’s gambling advertising, tomorrow it’s alcohol, then it’s sugary drinks, fast food, critical minerals and who knows what else comes next.
“This package of measures even seeks to go further than the Murphy Inquiry with the banning of online Keno and goes beyond the remit of the Federal
Government by phasing out jersey and stadium advertising.”
Responsible Wagering Australia also acknowledged the Government’s proposed crackdown on the illegal offshore gambling market which is costing Australians almost $4 billion each year and growing at 2.5x the rate of the legal licensed and regulated market.
“The test is whether these measures are strong, coordinated and enforceable.
“There is no silver bullet. These operators are highly sophisticated and will stop at nothing to target Australians and evade enforcement.
“To effectively tackle the issue there must be a sustained, coordinated approach that cuts them off at the source including payment blocking by financial institutions, stronger regulatory powers for the ACMA, and action to remove their presence online and across social media. The Government must consult with the industry to get this right and it must be the priority going forward.
“If the licensed market is overregulated, Australians won’t stop gambling. They will go offshore to operators with no consumer protections, no oversight, and no contribution to the Australian economy, sport or racing.”
RWA said it stands ready to engage constructively with Government on both advertising settings and offshore enforcement to ensure policy outcomes that reduce harm and protect Australians.
The post RWA: Gambling Ad Crackdown Threatens Shift Offshore appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Australia
NSW: More Than 650 Gaming Machine Exemptions Revoked to Address Gambling Harm
The Minns Labor Government continues to reduce gambling harm by delivering on its commitment to remove outdated exemptions that enabled more than 650 pubs and clubs to operate gaming machines during standard shutdown hours.
Following an announcement in December by the Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris that exemptions would cease from 31 March 2026, more than 650 venues will be required from 1 April to shut down all gaming machines between 4am to 10am each day, in line with NSW standard shutdown hours.
The six-hour shutdown is a harm minimisation measure intended to provide players with an important break in play.
Of the 672 venues with a varied shutdown period, usually for three hours instead of six, many have been in place for more than 20 years. These were given for reasons including being in high traffic ‘tourist’ locations, a history of earlier opening hours or financial hardship.
Venues that believed they had a strong case to keep their exemptions under the legislation and the revised Ministerial Guidelines, had the opportunity to put their case to Liquor & Gaming NSW.
As of 24 March 2026, 649 have been revoked by Liquor & Gaming NSW under delegation from the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and 10 by the Authority itself. Thirteen venues remain under assessment. All venues will be considered and an outcome communicated by 31 March 2026.
Sixty-two venues applied to keep their exemptions. Of the 49 applications assessed so far, all have been revoked.
Liquor & Gaming NSW will undertake a compliance campaign after 1 April when the new requirements come into effect, to ensure all venues are abiding by the changes.
A Review of Gaming Machine Shutdown Hours Framework conducted by Liquor & Gaming NSW in 2024 found that a minimum six-hour shutdown period, commencing no later than 4am, is effective at minimising gambling harm.
The move continues a suite of gaming reforms which the Minns Government has implemented since coming into office, including:
• Reducing the cash input limit from $5000 to $500 for all new gaming machines
• Reducing the state-wide cap on gaming machine entitlements, so that every year the number of gaming machines reduces based on forfeiture rates
• Banning political donations from clubs with electronic gaming machines
• Banning external gaming-related signage and internal gaming-related signage that can be seen from outside the venue
• Introducing Responsible Gambling Officers in venues with more than 20 gaming machine entitlements and mandating that extra Responsible Gambling Officers be on duty in venues after midnight
• Mandating that all venues with gaming machines must keep a Gaming Plan of Management and a Gambling Incident Register
• Banning gambling advertising on public transport and the ferries and terminals people catch it from
• Consulting with the community on a third-party exclusion scheme and use of mandatory facial recognition technology to support a statewide exclusion register for NSW hotels and clubs with gaming machines
Launching a NSW-first code of practice for the use of facial recognition in pubs and clubs that use the technology, following full consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including harm minimisation advocates, the NSW Privacy Commissioner and industry.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “The Minns Labor Government takes gambling harm minimisation seriously and that’s why I called for a review of the gaming machine variations back in December that has removed outdated exemptions that enabled more than 650 pubs and clubs to operate gaming machines during standard shutdown hours.
“Following months of review, it was clear these variations enabling about 20 per cent of clubs and pubs with gaming machines to operate outside of the mandated hours, some of which were more than 20 years old, were no longer fit for purpose.
“To enable variations to be revoked, I updated the Ministerial Guidelines and set up a streamlined process for venues to make their case if they wished to keep their variation, and to allow for a transition period.
“These changes are expected to prevent and reduce gambling harm.
“The NSW Government will continue to deliver evidence-based reforms to ensure we are striking the balance of addressing gambling harm while supporting sustainable development of an industry that employs more than 150,000 people in NSW and injects billions into the economy.”
The post NSW: More Than 650 Gaming Machine Exemptions Revoked to Address Gambling Harm appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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