“Nothing can make up for the harm a Melbourne family experienced as a result of the failure by multiple operators to prevent a young teen from gambling between May 2022 and October 2023,” Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) CEO Annette Kimmitt AM said.

Her comment followed the conclusion of VGCCC’s most comprehensive action to date for underage gambling – more than 2000 hours of investigations, 14 prosecutions against 10 entities, 98 charges and fines totalling half-a-million dollars.

The VGCCC investigation was prompted by concerns reported by the mother of the then 17-year-old, whose neurodiversity, in addition to his age, put him at high risk of gambling harm.

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Ms Kimmitt said: “I can only imagine how difficult it was for the mother to come to us and I commend her for doing so. I hope the outcomes and conclusion of these proceedings bring her some comfort, following the significant trauma she and her family have gone through.

“When industry is not diligent about complying with its legal and social obligations, the consequences for everyday Victorians can be serious and long lasting, which is why the VGCCC is determined to hold operators to account.”

The final case was heard before the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria on Thursday 13 February. Correct Bet Pty Ltd, the operator of the Coburg TAB outlet, pleaded guilty to two charges and was fined $3000 without conviction and ordered to pay VGCCC costs of $5500.

Magistrate Hodgson considered that Correct Bet had no prior convictions in 14 years of operation across multiple venues and had implemented additional measures, including staff training, mobile phone policy changes, and regular CCTV monitoring.

Separately, on Friday 7 February, Supreme Edinburgh Pty Ltd, trading as the Duke of Edinburgh in Brunswick, pleaded guilty in the Magistrates’ Court to three counts of breaching the Gambling Regulation Act 2003. The operator was fined $2500 and ordered to pay VGCCC costs of $4950.

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Ms Kimmitt said: “It is a venue’s responsibility to ensure minors do not access a designated gambling area, let alone gamble, no matter how determined or convincing a child might be.

“We welcome the outcome of these court hearings, which bring to a close all prosecutions involving this family. Unfortunately, the family’s recovery from this experience is likely to take a lot longer and leave a painful scar.”

The Swedish Government has appointed Marcus Isgren, chairman and head of the Swedish Board of Consumer Complaints (ARN), as Investigator of Swedish Gambling Act Review.

The Gambling Act of 2018 established the framework for the regulation of competitive online gambling in Sweden from January 2019. However, studies have suggested that player protection measures have been insufficient, while the wording has also allowed some unlicensed gaming operators to go unchallenged. Isgren must deliver a report by September 17.

Sweden’s licensed gambling operators will hope to have Isgren’s ear as he begins the review. The online gambling industry association Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS) has called for the government to close what it describes as loopholes in the 2018 Gambling Act that prevent action against unlicensed operators that don’t use the Swedish language or currency.

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This month, a Swedish court quashed an injunction issued by the national gambling regulator Spelinspektionen against the payment provider Zimpler due to a lack of “concreteness” in the definition of illegal gambling offerings. It noted that the wording of the Gambling Act states that operators are only deemed to be targeting Swedish players if they use the Swedish language or list the Swedish Krona.

Launching the review, Minister for Financial Markets, Niklas Wykman, said that clamping down on the black market would be a priority for the review.

“We will do this by amending the Gambling Act so that it becomes more appropriate. This is one of the single most important measures for a safer and healthier gambling market,” he said.

Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnviraku has said that the Thai Cabinet is unlikely to approve a proposal by the Council of State to require locals to have $1.5 million in their bank accounts to enter the nation’s casinos.

It would be “difficult for the proposal to win the cabinet’s approval” because it would fail to address the issue of locals visiting illegal gambling dens or casinos in neighbouring countries, Anutin said.

He also stated that his Bhumjaithai Party would, as a government coalition member, support government policies as long as they do not harm society.

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Pakorn Nilprapunt, secretary-general of the Council of State – which has proposed the revised policy, said earlier this week that the idea was to limit casino entry to those with substantial financial means.

The revised entertainment complex bill is currently welcoming its second round of public feedback but will also need further cabinet approval if latest policy revisions are to progress.

Anutin said that the newly proposed $1.5 million entry requirement for locals would be discussed at a cabinet meeting.