The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has announced that it has fined the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) $550,000 ($352,427/€326,249) for operating electronic gaming machines (pokies) without the correct pre-commitment technology installed.
Australian gambling fines account for 99% of global fines issued so far this year.
“This outcome demonstrates the VGCCC’s commitment to pursuing those operators who opportunistically or deliberately contravene their obligations to protect the community from gambling harm. Gambling providers need to pay close attention to their obligations because the consequences for getting it wrong can be significant.”
The confirmation of ALH’s fine follows VGCCC’s announcement that it had charged BlueBet with placing illegal gambling ads on billboards throughout Victoria. Meanwhile, in July of this year the regulator charged eight gambling venues with remaining open outside permitted operating hours while also not having YourPlay installed on some of their gambling machines.
So far in 2023, gambling regulators across the globe have issued a total of US$390,170,226 (AU$609,006,878/£310,325,725 /€361,081,913) in fines and penalties. Australian regulators have issued the lion’s share of those fines with regulatory penalties totaling US$390,166,053 (AU$608,953,045/£249,581,234/€361,182,845).
