CEO Annette Kimmitt AM keynote presentation to the Regulating the Game conference 2023

Delivering the keynote presentation at the Regulating the Game conference in Sydney this week, she noted that now also with a stronger mandate to minimise gambling harm, the VGCCC has:

• taken disciplinary action against Crown Melbourne for serious and illegal misconduct related to the China Union Pay Process and for breaching their Responsible Service of Gambling obligations, issuing fines totalling $200 million
• worked with AUSTRAC and the Australian Federal Police to expose an alleged $4.7 million money laundering ring operating out of a large club in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs
• began prosecution against ALH, Australia’s largest poker machine operator with 62 charges for allegedly operating 220 gaming machines for up to 5 weeks without having the mandatory pre-commitment technology (YourPlay) installed
• attached more stringent harm minimisation and community contribution conditions to applications for additional EGM entitlements.

“These are some examples of how our commitment to our Purpose of ensuring integrity, safety and fairness, together with our heightened industry expectations, a clearer regulatory posture and our focus on being more courageous in our approach are working together to drive more impactful regulatory outcomes.”

Ms Kimmitt also addressed organisational priorities to ensure Victoria’s gambling industry operates with integrity, is safe and fair. 

This included, for example, the Commission’s intention to institute an ongoing program of ‘own-motion’ inquiries, which will allow the Commission to consider a wide range of issues related to gambling and gambling harm that represent a particular risk or where a systemic issue has been identified.

By way of example, topics that might be examined by the Commission could include money laundering vulnerabilities in Victorian pubs and clubs, or the risk to minors of Electronic Betting Terminals.

Ms Kimmitt also flagged the VGCCC was keen to take a more activist approach in addressing emerging policy and industry issues by working together with colleagues in other jurisdictions to drive reforms. This included reforms associated with:

• cashless gaming as a means of minimising the risks of money laundering, and mandatory pre-commitment by players as a means of minimising gambling harm
• online gambling
• advertising.

Read the full speech (PDF, 818.32 KB)