Gambling defined and offences consolidated from 1 July 2015

It also provides, for the first time, a definition of gambling in the legislation.

Under the Act, "gambling" is an activity that includes all of the following:

• a prize of money or something else of value is offered or can be won
• a person pays or stakes money or some other valuable consideration to participate
• the outcome involves, or is presented as involving, an element of chance.

An activity is defined as "gambling" if it involves an element of chance. This applies even if the outcome of the activity may be influenced by a person's skill.

The offence of "unauthorised gambling" replaces the various offences relating to lotteries, unlawful games, betting, totalisators and betting exchanges.

There are no practical changes to offences or penalties, and the VGCCC will continue to monitor compliance with the law.

Penalties equivalent to those previously provided for under the Act continue to apply to persons who conduct unauthorised gambling.

For more information, see the Gambling and gambling-related offences web page.

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