Australia
Victoria: Landmark Reforms to Reduce Gambling Related Harm
The Andrews Labor Government is introducing sweeping new reforms to protect Victorians from gambling harm – making the state’s gambling harm protections the strongest in Australia.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne announced new reforms to reduce gambling harm at venues with electronic gaming machines (EGMs) across the state.
An estimated 330,000 Victorians experience harm as a result of gambling each year – costing Victoria around $7 billion annually and leading to significant financial distress, mental health concerns and relationship issues.
All EGMs in Victoria will require mandatory pre-commitment limits and carded play, putting the power back into the hands of patrons while also ensuring that money is tracked – stopping money laundering through our gaming venues.
Load up limits – how much money an individual can put into an EGM at a time – will be capped at $100, down from the current limit of $1000, helping people make informed decisions about their spending, change their behaviour and reduce the amount that can be lost.
Mandatory pre-commitment, carded play and load up limits will be introduced subject to thorough consultation with industry through an implementation working group – taking into account trials in other jurisdictions and the experience at Crown Melbourne, which will have mandated pre-commitment and carded play on all EGMs by the end of 2023.
By mid-2024, mandatory closure periods will be enforced for all gaming machine areas in a venue, except the casino, between 4 am and 10 am. This will address evidence showing some venues are implementing staggered opening hours to allow users to move between venues in one area to continue gambling.
The Government will also make it mandatory for all new EGMs to spin at a rate of three seconds per game, slowing the pace of the game down and limiting the amount that can be lost.
These combined reforms will keep pace with emerging technologies gaming machines are using, produce safer gambling environments and help patrons to take a break.
These reforms extend changes the Government introduced after the findings of the Royal Commission to other gaming venues across the state, building on nation-leading protections introduced at Crown and the establishment of the nation’s strongest regulator – the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).
This year’s Budget includes $71 million for the VGCCC to take on a larger role in gambling harm minimisation, taking over most of the functions of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation from 1 July 2024.
Anyone affected by their own or someone else’s gambling can call Gambler’s Help 24/7 on 1800 858 858 to access confidential and free advice, support and referral.
Premier Daniel Andrews said: “These reforms will provide the strongest gambling harm preventions and anti-money laundering measures in Australia – we owe it to all Victorians to take this stance and help those experiencing harm turn their lives around.
“I look forward to the implementation working group’s input and effort.”
Melissa Horne, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, said: “Everyone loses when it comes to gambling harm, and it’s not confined to money – people lose their relationships, their jobs and their wellbeing.
“Our previous reforms have delivered stronger oversight of the gambling industry in Victoria with a regulator unafraid to hold venues to account – now we’re doing more important work to reduce gambling-related harm.”
BetMakers Technology Group has entered into a partnership with The Bookie Group (TBG), who announced the appointment of veteran wagering executive Jason Scott as part of their growth and brand expansion strategy.
Scott, formerly CEO of Racing Queensland and a senior executive with Entain and BetMGM, brings a wealth of global racing and sports betting experience to TBG. His arrival marks a significant step as the group accelerates development of its multi-brand strategy, building on the early success of PonyBet, currently live and trading in the Australian market.
TBG’s growth is underpinned by its strategic partnership with BetMakers Technology Group, leveraging the newly launched Apollo platform to deliver highly personalised, agile wagering experiences.
“The early success of PonyBet on the Apollo platform has been fantastic to see and a great endorsement of the BetMakers solution. We’re excited to partner closely with Jason, Brian and the TBG team as they execute on their vision for a dynamic, multi-brand wagering business,” said Martin Tripp, Chief Operating Officer at BetMakers Technology Group.
“I’ve been incredibly impressed with the Apollo platform and the team behind it. The technology gives us the flexibility to move fast and innovate, and I’m excited to work with BetMakers to deliver unique and engaging products that modern punters are looking for,” said Jason Scott.
TBG has plans to launch several new betting brands throughout 2025 and 2026, focusing on personalisation, entertainment, and operational excellence. With Scott at the helm and BetMakers providing the technology backbone, the group is well-positioned to deliver differentiated products to market at speed and scale.
The post BetMakers Partners with The Bookie Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has fined the Werribee RSL $30,000 for failing to prevent 2 self-excluded customers from gambling.
VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan said: “This is the first time the VGCCC has taken disciplinary action against a club or hotel for self-exclusion breaches.
“Self-exclusion programs empower people to manage their gambling by registering to be temporarily or permanently blocked from entering gambling areas of clubs, pubs and casinos.
“By failing to respect a person’s decision to self-exclude, a venue may put customers who have decided to take a break from gambling, or quit altogether, at risk of experiencing gambling harm.”
In January 2024, the VGCCC received an anonymous tip-off that a self-excluded person entered the Werribee RSL gaming room and used the poker machines. The venue self-reported a second breach in May 2024, after realising a different customer had gambled at the venue on at least 4 occasions between February and May 2024.
Ms Neilan said: “Taking disciplinary action is the last resort. We would prefer venues take their harm minimisation responsibilities seriously by complying with their legal obligations, including through the effective implementation of tools like self-exclusion.
“Venues and their staff are the last line of defence for self-excluded customers, who should be able to trust that their decision to self-exclude will be respected. They must have the appropriate controls in place to prevent self-excluded people from entering gaming rooms.”
The VGCCC acknowledged that Werribee RSL cooperated with the investigations and has since taken steps to strengthen its procedures. These include improved and regular staff training, daily audits of the self-exclusion register and greater use of technology to identify self-excluded customers who attempt to enter the gaming room.
This remedial action was taken into consideration in determining the amount of the fine.
The post VGCCC Fines Werribee RSL for Self-exclusion Failures appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued ReadyBet with a remedial direction after the company marketed to customers who had registered with BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register (NSER).
An ACMA investigation found ReadyBet sent 273 texts and push notifications from its mobile app to self-excluded individuals.
Separately, the company also failed to promote the NSER in 2342 push notifications despite it being mandatory to promote BetStop in any marketing electronic messages.
The ACMA issued the remedial direction so that ReadyBet takes action to prevent it breaching the rules in the future.
Under the remedial direction, ReadyBet must commission an independent review of its marketing systems, including its use of third-party suppliers.
ReadyBet must also engage a provider to deliver training to its staff to avoid messages being sent to self-excluded individuals.
The ACMA may seek civil penalties if ReadyBet does not comply with the remedial direction.
The post ACMA: ReadyBet Breaches Gambling Self-exclusion Rules appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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