A cluster of Australian gambling news – ACMA bans overseas gambling sites, fines for domestic gambling firms, cashless pokies test in NSW & more! (Photo by Andrea Piacquadio Pexels)
There is plenty to talk about from the Aussie gambling scene this September, and we’ve rounded up the main headlines below.
Regulatory clampdowns continue on overseas gambling platforms. NSW continues to invest in reducing problem gambling and increasing responsible gambling awareness.
Plus, more regulatory news headlines as a string of Aussie gambling firms penalised financially for not following the state’s gambling protocols on land-based gambling machines. At the same time, Tabcorp faces fines for a system failure during the 2020 Spring Racing Carnival.
We finish with a short statement covering a new cashless pokie machine test program in Australia’s New South Wales state.
Regulatory Clampdown in Australia
The Australian watchdog ACMA has again forced internet providers to up their game by blocking more illegal offshore gambling websites. The freshest set of banned sites includes the likes of Viperspin and Just Casino. Online casinos are illegal in the country, while the government is trying to crack down on online sports books not operating under Australian regulatory licensing.
This includes casinos with no licensing and gaming entertainment sites operating under the Curacao license, which still allows its licensees to target the Aussie market. Since 2017, the ACMA has shut off access to 835 dodgy gambling websites since they started this mission in 2017. And guess what? 215 of these platforms decided to pack up and leave the Australian market altogether.
Why all this fuss? ACMA says it’s all in the name of consumer protection. Whether sketchy online casinos or unlicensed betting, ACMA is ready to put its foot down to keep Aussies safe from casinos not governed under domestic laws.
NSW Allocates Millions Towards Tackling Gambling Issues
The New South Wales government is implementing measures to mitigate the social and economic impacts of gambling.
A staggering AU$ 73 million has been committed, primarily from the penalty imposed on Star Casino. Commencing in 2023-24, an allocation of AU$ 16m will be disbursed annually over three years to curb gambling-related issues. An extra AU$ 7m will be designated for the Responsible Gambling Fund in the same fiscal year. Concurrently, AU$ 4.7m will fund self-exclusion measures in local pubs and clubs.
If that wasn’t enough, A$ 2.5m will bankroll a one-year cashless gaming trial in the country.
A breakdown of how NSW will distribute the money
- AU$ 73 million committed to gambling issues.
- AU$ 16 million/year for broad harm minimisation.
- AU$ 7 million for the Responsible Gambling Fund.
- AU$ 4.7 million for self-exclusion methods.
- AU$ 2.5 million for cashless gaming trial.
VGCCC Takes Action on Tower Hotel and Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has issued Tower Hotel, operated by Rumotel Pty Ltd, a series of charges for breaching gambling protocols in Victoria, Australia.
The hotel has been mandated to halt all gaming machine activities until compliance is achieved. The commission has forewarned of a possible maximum fine of AU$ 758k should the hotel neglect its legal duties. Most of the 34 charges centre around the lack of YourPlay, a compulsory pre-commitment technology, within the hotel’s gaming machines.
The VGCCC also clamped down on Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) last month, citing similar infractions to those committed by Tower Hotel. A magistrates court ordered ALH to pay an AU$ 400,000 fine and an added AU$ 35,000 to cover the VGCCC’s legal proceedings. A covert informant led the VGCCC to ALH’s infringements, resulting in 62 charges against venues owned by the hospitality group in Victoria.
Tabcorp record fine: Tabcorp was also fined with an AU$ 750,000 penalty. Why Such a Large Fine? The fine came in light of a significant system failure during the 2020 Spring Racing Carnival, leaving the service inaccessible for an unsettling 36 hours.
NSW Contemplates Cash-Free Gaming Test
New South Wales is all set to pilot a cashless gaming initiative steered by Liquor & Gaming NSW. The trial aims to measure the influence of cashless transactions on the state’s gambling sector. A third-party expert will scrutinise the trial’s efficacy, set to last for no less than three months.
There is support from several companies keen to participate, but they need to fulfil stringent criteria, which include harm reduction and anti-money laundering protocols.
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