Australia
VGCCC Fines Crown Melbourne AU$20M for Breaching Casino Tax Obligations
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has taken disciplinary action against Crown Melbourne for improper tax deductions and concealment of information.
The Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence found that Crown improperly claimed tax deductions by including the costs of certain promotional activities as amounts paid out as winnings. The Royal Commission also found that Crown deliberately concealed the nature of these deductions from the VGCCC’s predecessor, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.
The true nature of these deductions was only revealed when the Royal Commission noticed a document setting out the quantum of unpaid casino tax among voluminous documents that Crown disclosed to the Royal Commission for other purposes.
Once its conduct was brought to light by the Royal Commission, Crown accepted it had been wrong to claim these tax deductions and has since paid approximately $61.5 million to the State of Victoria comprising unpaid casino tax of about $37.4 million and penalty interest of approximately $24.1 million. On top of this, the VGCCC has imposed a fine of $20 million.
Chairperson Fran Thorn said: “Crown and other gaming licensees have important obligations to pay gaming taxes to the State. Not only did Crown breach its obligations by claiming tax deductions to which it was not entitled, Crown also made significant efforts at concealment.
“The VGCCC will not tolerate this behaviour. We expect licensees to comply with their tax obligations and to be transparent in their dealings with us. We have today imposed a significant fine of $20 million on Crown to send a clear message that this type of conduct will be met with strong disciplinary action. This fine also sends an important message to other gambling operators about the importance of complying with their obligations to pay gambling taxes and the need for frank and open dealings with the regulator.”
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested that Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal offshore gambling websites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include A Big Candy, Jackpoty and John Vegas Casino.
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 995 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked.
Over 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal offshore gambling rules in 2017.
The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Offshore Gambling Websites appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australian gambling services firm Tabcorp Holdings has appointed former Australian Football League (AFL) boss Gillon McLachlan as its chief executive and managing director.
The appointment comes months after former chief Adam Rytenskild resigned over allegedly using “offensive” and “inappropriate” language at the workplace and as the firm navigates a strategic transformation amid heightened competition pressures.
McLachlan was the AFL chief executive for a decade during which he contributed to significant revenue growth and oversaw its expansion.
He will join Tabcorp on Aug. 5 and assume the roles of CEO and MD upon receiving regulatory approvals, the company said. He will receive an annual fixed remuneration of AU$ 1.5 million.
“In the two years since demerger, we have significantly improved our customer offering and delivered key structural reforms in Queensland and Victoria,” Tabcorp Executive Chairman Bruce Akhurst said.
“Gill brings an added dimension of having been responsible for some of the most significant media rights deals in Australian sports history and we’re excited about the potential growth opportunities for our wagering and media business under his leadership,” Bruce Akhurst added.
The post Tabcorp Appoints Gillon McLachlan as MD & CEO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BetMakers Technology Group Ltd, the leading global B2B provider of technologies and services that simplify betting at critical points in wagering, announced the appointment of Mr Carl Henschke as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 1 July 2024.
Mr Henschke brings over 17 years of experience in financial services, capital markets and legal sectors to BetMakers. He began his career as a solicitor in the corporate team at Herbert Smith Freehills, and for the past decade, he has worked as an investment banker. Most recently he served as Managing Director at Canaccord Genuity, focusing on software and digital businesses, including those in the wagering and betting sector. Mr Henschke’s expertise encompasses financial planning and analysis, strategy, capital management and M&A.
BetMakers CEO Jake Henson said: “We are delighted to welcome Carl as the company’s new CFO. His extensive financial expertise and deep understanding of high growth technology companies make him an ideal fit for BetMakers. Carl’s experience will be important as we continue to refine our operational efficiencies, expand our global presence, and enhance shareholder value.”
The post BetMakers Appoints Carl Henschke as its New Chief Financial Officer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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