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Bookies Cop NSW’s Largest Fine For Illegal Gambling Advertising

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Photo Source: nsw.gov.au

 

In the biggest ever fine of its kind in NSW, Ladbrokes and Neds were yesterday convicted and ordered to pay a total of $207,500 for offering illegal gambling inducements to NSW residents.

Under current NSW law, wagering operators found guilty of promoting inducements to gamble, face fines of up to $110,000 per offence and company directors can be criminally prosecuted.

Following an investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW, Ladbrokes, which owns Neds, was fined in Downing Centre Local Court for each of four Ladbrokes and two Neds advertisements they ran across Channel 7, Instagram and Facebook in 2018.

The advertisements offered bonus bets for a smaller deposit, such as a deal to “Deposit $50, get $250 in bonus bets.”

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These bonus bets only applied to people who opened new betting accounts.

Liquor & Gaming NSW A/Director of Compliance, Dimitri Argeres, said the clear inducements to gamble and open a betting account were accessible to all users on social media.

“Inducements are known to increase the risk of gambling harm and these advertisements reached a broad segment of the population,” Mr Argeres said.

“In NSW such advertisements are restricted to registered betting account holders.

“This record fine should serve as a reminder that betting operators have an obligation to ensure their gambling advertising complies with NSW laws.

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“Penalties of this magnitude are not easily absorbed into running costs.”

Under the NSW Betting and Racing Act, it is an offence to publish a gambling advertisement that includes any inducement to participate or participate frequently, in any gambling activity.

Ladbrokes and Neds have the right to appeal.

Australia

Crown Approved to Retain its Melbourne Licence

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The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has ruled Australian casino giant Crown Resorts can keep its Crown Melbourne casino licence.

The full Commission decided that Crown Melbourne has addressed the failings identified by the 2021 Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence.

Commission Chair Fran Thorn said that the Royal Commission detailed how Crown Melbourne had breached its legal, social and moral obligations, resulting in illegal activities, tax avoidance, money laundering, criminal associations and significant harm to vulnerable community members, ultimately finding Crown Melbourne unsuitable to hold the Melbourne Casino Licence.

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“Despite the enormity of its findings, the Finkelstein Royal Commission recommended Crown be permitted to continue operating under stringent independent oversight conditions for two years, determining it had the will and capacity to transform itself to again become suitable, which would be to Victoria’s benefit,” she said.

The Victorian Government responded decisively to the Royal Commission’s findings, appointing a Special Manager to oversee Crown Melbourne’s operations and remediation. It also established the VGCCC as a new regulator focussed solely on the gambling industry and created a specific set of enhanced powers with respect to the Melbourne casino.

The Commission was given the responsibility of deciding whether it was clearly satisfied that Crown Melbourne had returned to suitability and whether the Melbourne Casino Licence remained in the public interest. In making its independent determination, the Commission carefully considered the reports of the Royal Commission and other relevant inquiries, the reports of the Special Manager. Those reports considered the steps Crown Melbourne had taken to address the matters identified by the Royal Commission and the measures to ensure they would not be repeated.

Commissioner Thorn said the Special Manager’s final report concluded that Crown Melbourne has remediated the failings exposed in the Royal Commission and established the critical foundations needed to achieve sustainable overall transformation in coming years.

“There was no evidence of maladministration or illegal or improper conduct indicative of the serious and systemic failures previously identified by the Royal Commission, and these failings had been addressed,” she said.

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Commissioner Thorn said that Crown Melbourne had demonstrated to the satisfaction of both the Commission and the Special Manager that it had introduced extensive reforms to prevent or reduce gambling harm, financial crime and money laundering. It has also addressed systemic risk management failures and strengthened its integrity framework.

“During our investigations, we observed a different Crown Melbourne emerging with a clear understanding of the privilege and obligations of holding the Melbourne Casino Licence,” she said.

The Commission’s decision was also supported by Crown Melbourne’s comprehensive transformation plan, required by the Special Manager, against which it will continue to be held accountable going forward.

“That transformation plan will be at the heart of our oversight, along with Crown’s legal and social obligations, and provides the next level standard for Crown Melbourne. The Commission will require Crown Melbourne to deliver further transformation through a statutory direction that will be issued shortly,” she said.

Along with the VGCCC’s strengthened oversight regime and enforcement powers, the VGCCC has established a new, specialist Casino Division providing confidence that Crown Melbourne will be held stringently accountable in the future, including for its ongoing transformation.

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Commissioner Thorn said: “In return for the privilege of an exclusive licence, Victorians have a right to expect that Crown Melbourne will never again prioritise profit ahead of the safety and wellbeing of its patrons and staff or over compliance with its legal and social obligations.

“Crown Melbourne must continue to seek to rebuild and earn public trust by demonstrating the good character, honesty and integrity that are necessary to remain a suitable casino operator. We put Crown on notice that this Commission will not hesitate to act if the privilege of holding the casino licence is again abused.”

The post Crown Approved to Retain its Melbourne Licence appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Australia

BetMakers CFO Anthony Pullin Resigns

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BetMakers Technology Group has announced the resignation of its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Anthony Pullin.

Pullin had been with BetMakers for over five years and has played a key part in helping with the business’ growth and development, according to the company.

The outgoing CFO’s last day will be on Wednesday 27 March 2024, with the process said to be already underway to employ a replacement for Pullin, with BetMakers set to provide a market update on the matter shortly.

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In the meantime, BetMakers Group Financial Controller, Warrick Van Der Merwe, will act as the interim CFO. Van Der Merwe has been with the company for around three years and previously led the Australian and Group financial reporting teams, reporting directly to Pullin.

Jake Henson, CEO of BetMakers, said: “We thank Anthony for his significant contribution to BetMakers. Over the past 5 years Anthony has been a valued senior team member, adding financial rigour to our business.

“He leaves BetMakers in a strong position, with the foundations now in place for the Company to achieve profitability. We wish Anthony all the very best for his future endeavors where I have no doubt he will be an extremely highly valued team member.”

The post BetMakers CFO Anthony Pullin Resigns appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Queensland Parliament Passes New Laws Restricting Cash Gambling at Casinos

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The Queensland Parliament has passed new laws restricting cash gambling at casinos. New laws will increase regulatory scrutiny and enhance the integrity of Queensland casinos, with a focus on reducing gambling harm.

The reforms enable the government to implement the remaining recommendations of the Review of the Queensland operations of The Star Entertainment Group by the Honourable Robert Gotterson AO KC.

It marks the second raft of substantial legislative changes to the Casino Control Act 1982 in the past two years.

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Under the legislation, casinos will be required to:

  • implement mandatory carded play for certain games and activities, with restrictions on the use of cash, as well as mandatory pre-commitment, with time limits and enforced player breaks
  • issue player cards and collect information relating to play and provide certain de-identified data to the regulator
  • comply with an enforceable code of conduct to be defined in a regulation
  • pay a supervision levy to the government to cover the costs of casino regulation and to fund harm minimisation programs
  • take steps to exclude people who are banned from interstate casinos by an interstate police commissioner.

The legislation increases regulatory scrutiny, requiring Queensland casinos to undergo a periodic review of their operations and suitability at least every five years. Certain outdated and potentially stigmatising language was also removed from the legislation.

The reforms also enhance and modernise casino inspectorate powers, by updating the way inspectors may request information and allowing them to interview minors and excluded persons on casino premises (if the minor or excluded person is found on the premises).

The new laws represent the second set of substantial reforms to the Casino Control Act in the past two years.

Previous reforms implemented by the government in 2022 removed barriers to disciplinary action and ensure that meaningful penalties could be levelled against casinos where warranted.

The earlier reforms, which allowed government to fine casino entities up to $100 million and appoint a special manager to oversee their operations, were key in disciplinary action taken against The Star Entertainment Group in December 2022.

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Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette D’Ath:

“Queenslanders have the right to expect casinos are being operated lawfully and in a way that minimises harm.

“The new laws will help ensure Queensland casinos operate with integrity and that they have measures in place to prevent gambling harm and combat money laundering.

“Importantly, these reforms pave the way to implementing the remaining recommendations of the Gotterson Review, with the government now focused on developing the regulations required to enforce these reforms.”

The post Queensland Parliament Passes New Laws Restricting Cash Gambling at Casinos appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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