Australia
AUSTRAC Announces its 2024 Regulatory Priorities
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has disclosed its regulatory roadmap for next year, focusing on money laundering, terrorism financing and serious crimes.
The strategic priorities centre on enhancing business resilience to these risks, particularly in sectors prone to higher threats such as banking, gambling and remittance. It will also focus on digital currency exchanges (DCEs), payment platforms, bullion, and non-bank lenders and financiers.
The regulatory priorities for inspections will include senior management oversight around culture and risk management practices, effective transaction monitoring and managing outsourcing arrangements.
Peter Soros, AUSTRAC’s acting CEO, said a key aspect of the agency’s regulatory work is identifying areas for improvement early to prevent problems from becoming systemic.
He said: “These priorities signal our ongoing intent to work with businesses to embed a culture of vigilance, ensuring everyone at every level is aware of the threat of financial abuse and criminal exploitation.
“Criminals target businesses with weak anti-money laundering settings, which is why AUSTRAC’s regulation, through education and supervision, is crucial to safeguarding Australia’s communities and financial systems from financial harm.
“Although today’s announcement calls out certain sectors, all industries sectors should expect interaction and engagement from AUSTRAC.”
Andrew Cardno
QCI Launches its Data Community Platform in Australia
Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has launched its Data Community platform in Australia, bringing unified consumer intelligence to the rapidly expanding $13 trillion global Fun Economy. By connecting venues, retailers and destination districts into a single interoperable ecosystem, the platform enables real-time insights, personalised engagement and seamless digital-to-physical experiences.
The Data Community platform enables smarter staffing, stronger tenant collaboration and more personalised engagement, helping operators manage increasingly complex, high-traffic environments. The global “Fun Economy” — spanning leisure, hospitality, retail and entertainment — is valued at over $13 trillion, according to joint research from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Zero Labs.
Tony Toohey, Director of TT Management welcomed the platform’s availability in Australia: “The Australian market is increasingly focused on connected, experience-led destinations,” said Toohey.
“Operators here understand the importance of breaking down data silos and collaborating across venues and partners. QCI’s Data Community platform arrives at the right time, enabling a more coordinated and commercially intelligent approach to managing entertainment and hospitality environments.”
Andrew Cardno, Co-Founder and CTO of QCI, said: “Australia represents a sophisticated and forward-looking market for experience-driven destinations,” said Cardno.
“By bringing Data Community to the region, we are equipping operators with the tools to unify their data, understand guest journeys more deeply and curate experiences — not just transactions.”
QCI’s technology is deployed in more than 1000 sites globally, including over 300 casino resorts across North America, Australia and Europe. The company’s platform supports leading brands across gaming, hospitality and mixed-use entertainment districts, helping operators align marketing, operations and guest engagement within a single intelligence framework.
With the launch of Data Community in Australia, QCI continues to expand its role as the intelligence layer powering connected destinations across the evolving Fun Economy.
The post QCI Launches its Data Community Platform in Australia appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Australia
NSW: Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28 and Regulatory Priorities 2026
Liquor & Gaming NSW has published the Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28, setting a clear path for reducing harm, supporting responsible industry growth and meeting evolving community expectations. The Strategy outlines Hospitality and Racing’s vision, regulatory posture and strategic objectives.
It outlines three strategic objectives which will guide the work to support communities, individuals and the industry. The first is targeted harm reduction, using better data, education and engagement to focus on the areas where we can make the biggest difference.
The second is outcome‑focused, responsive regulation, by making use of streamlined, place‑based and community‑informed approaches that deliver meaningful, real-world outcomes.
Third is promoting modern tools, skilled teams and smart decisions, investing in its capability, improving how it uses data and supporting consistent decision making across hospitality and racing.
Regulatory Priorities 2026
Alongside the new strategy, Liquor & Gaming NSW has also issued its Regulatory Priorities 2026. This sets out where the department will be focusing its regulatory attention over course of the year. It provides transparency on Liquor & Gaming’s forward regulatory agenda and gives the industry the opportunity to proactively engage about the issues they are concerned about.
The post NSW: Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28 and Regulatory Priorities 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ACMA
ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Websites
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested the Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal online gambling sites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include:
Lucky Mate
Vegastars
Wombet
Cosmobet
Fortune Play
Fortunica
Rolletto
Velobet
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, 1518 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 online gambling rules in 2017.
The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Online Gambling Websites appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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