Australia
NSW Gambling Harm Prevention Grants Announced
Four new projects have received a total of $236,000 through the NSW Office of Responsible Gambling’s Odds on Youth program.
Odds on Youth is a capacity building program which partners with youth organisations to reduce gambling harm among young people.
The program is funded by the NSW Government’s Responsible Gambling Fund.
The four new projects will be rolled out by youth organisations in South West Sydney who took part in a gambling harm education workshop in the second round of the program in March.
NSW Office of Responsible Gambling Director Natalie Wright said working with youth organisations allows the office to fund projects that engage with young people and their families to stop gambling harm before it occurs.
“Research shows that people aged 18 – 24 who gamble are more likely to experience gambling harm which is why we have programs like Odds on Youth, helping provide education for these communities with a focus on early intervention,” Ms Wright said.
The grants have been awarded to the following organisations:
- Cumberland City Council ($60,000): Cumberland Odds on Youth – a local awareness campaign and education resource about gambling harm in the Cumberland area, co-designed with young people.
- Fairfield City Council ($60,000): Pay to Play? – a series of videos to educate young people in the Fairfield local area. The videos will be made with input from young people and will help them identify gambling harm.
- Headspace Campbelltown ($60,000): Cash Me Outside – targeting young people in the Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee areas, this project will include education resources, lived experience stories and capacity building for youth workers to help them identify and respond to young people at risk of gambling harm.
- Woodville Alliance ($56,000): Game Over: The Vietnamese Youth Project – the production of youth friendly and culturally appropriate short videos about gambling and gambling harm for young people from a Vietnamese background living in the Fairfield area.
Powered by WPeMatico
Leading gaming law and regulation conference Regulating the Game has announced the newly appointed CEO of Entain Australia and New Zealand as its first Featured Speaker for its March 2026 event in Sydney.
The conference is scheduled to take place from 9 to 11 March 2026 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.
Andrew Vouris, who was appointed CEO of Entain Australia and New Zealand in August, brings almost two decades of leadership experience in wagering, operations and innovation at some of Australia’s largest wagering operators.
His career spans senior leadership roles in Tabcorp’s multi-billion dollar wagering and media business, heading global operations of a pioneering esports and wagering platform, and partnering with private equity to build early-stage ventures in esports. Across these roles he has been deeply engaged in navigating complex regulatory and compliance challenges.
Since stepping into the CEO role at Entain Australia and New Zealand, Vouris has outlined his desire to embed a culture of “win, but not at all costs”, to return to the basics of selling bets and to lead innovation while ensuring customers are protected.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak at Regulating the Game 2026, which provides a unique global platform for advancing dialogue between regulators, industry and thought leaders,” Vouris said.
“At a time when public expectations and regulatory demands are at an all-time high, I look forward to sharing Entain’s vision for balancing sustainable growth, compliance leadership, and customer protection.”
Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch and founder of Regulating the Game, added: “Andrew’s leadership vision for Entain and his extensive track record across wagering and esports bring an important perspective to Regulating the Game 2026. His focus on culture, compliance and innovation aligns strongly with the values of the conference, and we are thrilled to feature his insights as part of this year’s program.”
The post Entain’s Andrew Vouris to Speak at Regulating the Game 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
AUSTRAC intelligence sparked an investigation that helped the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) to uncover a NSW police officer who sold more than $1.3 million in family gold bars to fund a gambling addiction.
The officer was found by the LECC to have engaged in serious misconduct after taking 12 gold bars, weighing 50 ounces each that belonged to his uncle and was stored underneath his mother’s house.
He falsified know your customer forms to sell the bullion to 2 dealers, claiming the gold was a birthday gift or inheritance and then he used the proceeds on sports betting apps and later admitted to the false information stating he “needed the money”.
AUSTRAC first raised the alarm by flagging transactions, including significant gold sales to a bullion dealer with reported money laundering links.
Operation Dartmoor was launched and uncovered the full extent of misconduct.
The officer resigned from the NSW Police Force and has been referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions.
AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said the case highlights the risks facing the bullion sector.
“Gambling harm doesn’t just drain bank accounts, it can drive desperate people into crime,” Mr Thomas said.
“When gambling turns to addiction, people often look for fast money and that can mean stealing, fraud or money laundering.
“Bullion is portable, valuable and attractive to people wanting to use it illegitimately.
“If you trade in bullion, you are part of the front line in stopping its exploitation.
“Your AML/CTF controls are the difference between being a trusted dealer or a weak link for crime.
“Every transaction is a potential red flag – it’s your responsibility to look twice, and if needed, report it.”
The post AUSTRAC Intelligence Helps Crack Gold Laundering Case Linked to Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Mindway AI, a leader in player protection solutions for the gaming industry, is pleased to announce a partnership with Crown Resorts to introduce GameScanner to their Australian operations. This partnership marks the largest global implementation of Mindway’s technology in a physical setting and is the first land-based application in Australia, setting a new industry standard and aligning with Crown’s commitment to safe and sustainable gaming.
GameScanner is an award-winning AI solution, trained by gambling harm experts, researchers, and psychologists, to better enable effective checks, with a focus on player well-being and preventative measures. GameScanner’s highly advanced technology enables operators to understand the risk distribution among their guests, allowing these risks to be identified and addressed to enhance player protection.
“The introduction of this technology at Crown is yet another example of our commitment to continuous safety improvements and harm minimisation,” said Dr Jamie Wiebe, Group EGM of Crown PlaySafe. “This will greatly assist in identifying risks and preventing harms from occurring in the first place, which is a major focus for us at Crown. In collaboration with our Crown PlaySafe initiatives, technology plays a critical role in helping us provide a safe environment and uphold our industry-leading standards for our guests.”
This partnership marks a new era for the growing Mindway AI, as the company expands its application of AI solutions into land-based settings. GameScanner currently engages with just over 12.8 million active players in 64 global jurisdictions each month.
“We are thrilled to partner with Crown Resorts in this significant initiative,” said Rasmus Kjaergaard CEO at Mindway AI. “Our shared vision for player welfare is the foundation of this collaboration. Our move into land-based applications signifies a significant milestone for Mindway AI. With GameScanner, we are reinforcing our commitment to player welfare across all gaming platforms, creating an environment where care and safety are paramount.”
The implementation of GameScanner marks a pivotal enhancement to Crown Resorts’ harm minimisation framework and reiterates the company’s dedication to industry-leading standards.
The post Mindway AI and Crown Resorts Partner to Launch Revolutionary Player Protection appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
eSports4 days agoEsports Charts to deliver comprehensive viewership data to GeoGuessr
-
Aquisitions/Mergers6 days ago
NOVOMATIC successfully completes sale of ADMIRAL Austria to Tipico and focuses on international growth markets
-
Central Europe6 days ago
SYNOT Games Delivers Bespoke Games Exclusively for SazkaHry.sk in the Slovak Market
-
BCLC6 days agoSave the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026
-
Betty6 days ago
Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership
-
Africa6 days ago
Kiron announces the launch of its new virtual football title, Turbo League, with SportPesa in Kenya and Tanzania
-
Balkans5 days ago
BEGE Awards Nominations Now Open – Celebrating 16 Years of Industry Excellence!
-
Brazil5 days ago
ThrillTech secures regulatory approvals to launch jackpots in Latam
