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The VGCCC regulates businesses focusing on the people, premises, products and promotions involved in supplying gambling to ensure the integrity of Victoria's gambling industries and to minimise harm.
 
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Operating a gaming venue

Other related content
GamblingGaming venue operator

Information about operating a gaming venue.

A venue operator licence enables an entity to operate gaming machines in Victoria. Venue operator licences are granted a licence for up to 10 years. Venue operators must apply to renew approval before the expiry date to continue their licence.

For licences that were current at 24 June 2009, the length of the licence period was automatically increased from five years to 10 years.

All subsequent applications for a new licence will be granted a 10-year licence from the date of approval.

For further information, see Venue operator's frequently asked questions.

Transfer ownership of a gaming venue

Where a venue operator enters into an agreement to purchase a gaming venue from another venue operator, regulatory approval must be obtained from the VGCCC before settlement can take place. For more information, see Regulatory requirements for transferring ownership of a gaming venue.

Seek approval to sub-licence or sub-contract access to monitoring data

The VGCCC must approve third party sub-licensee or sub-contractor entities before a venue operator provides access to monitoring data. To find out how to apply, see Application process to access gaming venue monitoring data.

Assessment of children's play areas in gaming premises

On 16 October 2013, the Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation issued Decision making guidelines - children's play areas concerning the assessment of children's play areas in gaming premises.

Gaming machine entitlements

Venue operators can only operate gaming machines if they hold gaming machine entitlements. The entitlements must also be attached to a venue approved by the VGCCC for the number of machines the venue operator intends to operate. See Gaming machine entitlements for more information.

Supervision charge

Gaming venue operators are required to pay a supervision charge to recover the costs of regulating the gaming industry in Victoria.

The VGCCC collects the supervision charge and distributes the revenue to the Department of Treasury and Finance.

See online venue manual for more information.

Electronic gaming machine tax and minimum Return to Players ratio

The following legislative amendments passed into law on 14 May 2014:

  • A 4.2 per cent increase in electronic gaming machine (EGM) tax rates for some hotels and clubs. The increased tax applies to EGM revenue collected from 1 May 2014 and applies to the top two tax brackets only. There is no change to the bottom tax bracket for hotels or clubs, where the monthly average-per-EGM player loss is below $2,666.
  • A reduction in the minimum Return to Players (RTP) ratio on electronic gaming machines, from 87 per cent to 85 per cent. The definition of "year" has been clarified as a "calendar year" for calculating RTP.

The table below outlines the Electronic Gaming Machine tax rates pre and post the amendments:

Electronic Gaming Machine tax rates pre-amendment New Electronic Gaming Machine tax rates (from 1 May 2014)

Club venue operators

Tax is a function of monthly average-per-EGM player loss.

For that part of the monthly average player loss which:

  • does not exceed $2,666, the tax rate is 0%
  • exceeds $2,666 but does not exceed $12,500, the tax rate is 42.5%
  • exceeds $12,500, the tax rate is 50%.

Club venue operators

Tax is a function of monthly average-per-EGM player loss.

For that part of the monthly average player loss which:

  • does not exceed $2,666, the tax rate is 0%
  • exceeds $2,666 but does not exceed $12,500, the tax rate is 46.7%
  • exceeds $12,500, the tax rate is 54.2%.

Hotel venue operators

Tax is a function of monthly average-per-EGM player loss.

For that part of the monthly average player loss which:

  • does not exceed $2,666, the tax rate is 8.33%
  • exceeds $2,666 but does not exceed $12,500, the tax rate is 50.83%
  • exceeds $12,500, the tax rate is 58.33%.

Hotel venue operators

Tax is a function of monthly average-per-EGM player loss.

For that part of the monthly average player loss which:

  • does not exceed $2,666, the tax rate is 8.33%
  • exceeds $2,666 but does not exceed $12,500, the tax rate is 55.03%
  • exceeds $12,500, the tax rate is 62.53%.
Pre-commitment

Pre-commitment is a harm minimisation and consumer protection measure and will maximise the capacity for people to make informed decisions about their gaming machine play, and assist them to stay in control.
From 1 December 2015, pre-commitment must be available on all gaming machines in Victoria, including those at the Melbourne Casino. It will be voluntary for players to use and will enable players to set limits and track their play across the state.

The Victorian Player Account Equipment Technical Standards: sets the minimum specifications of the Player Account Equipment (PAE) and identifies high-level technical requirements that Player Account Equipment must meet for the operation of the pre-commitment scheme.

The venue operator requirements appendix in the Victorian PAE Technical Requirements outlines the requirements for venue operators must meet in relation to the pre-commitment scheme.

Changes for staff working in gaming machine area

Duties requiring a gaming industry employee licences

It's now a requirement that a person working for, or employed by, a venue operator must hold a gaming industry employee licence to:

  • perform any task that requires access to the logic area of a gaming machine at the venue
  • possess, or issue to other persons holding a gaming industry employee's licence keys that unlock the logic area of a gaming machine at the gaming venue
  • perform any task that requires access to a prescribed restricted monitoring component at the gaming venue, i.e. access a Jackpot Interface Board or a Slot Machine Interface Board
  • supervise any person carrying out any of the duties referred to above at the gaming venue.
Responsible Service of Gaming

Gaming venue operators must ensure that all venue staff working in the gaming machine area have completed a Responsible Service of Gaming (RSG) training course within six months after they have started working in the gaming machine area of an approved venue (you are exempt from this requirement if you have already completed the training within the last three years).

More information, and a list of current RSG training providers is available from Responsible Service of Gaming.

General information

Venue manual

The online venue manual provides up-to-date information to gaming venue operators. The VGCCC advises venue operators to regularly check the manual to ensure they are meeting their regulatory requirements and compliance responsibilities.

Templates

These templates are designed to assist licensees meet their Accounting & Auditing Venue Requirements. They do not need to be utilised if you are using other tools to meet these requirements:

Obligations as a gaming venue operator

Ensure that you are meeting your obligations as a gaming venue operator, read the Gambling fact sheet - Your obligations as a gaming venue operator.

Application forms

Access both standard and online forms via Venue operator forms.

Find a gaming venue

You can search for an approved gaming venue by:

Monitoring licensee Intralot Gaming Services' FAQ

Monitoring licensee Intralot Gaming Services has provided FAQs - Intralot for gaming venue operators through their through their participation in the Gambling and Liquor Industry Forum.

Apply to operate a gaming venue