VGCCC extends regional focus and presence

With a dedicated gambling focus our inspectors will be inspecting gaming venues across regional Victoria.

They’ll be targeting venues across regional local government areas where gambling spend has increased significantly, there’s a history of non-compliance or a high concentration of poker machines.

VGCCC Gambling Director Glorija Kuzman said inspectors can show up anywhere, anytime.

“We’re a regulator for the whole of Victoria and this means monitoring and watching regional gaming venues very closely.

“The data does tell us that gambling spend in the regions we’re targeting is projected to increase up to 65% from pre-COVID levels (from 2018-19 to end of this financial year). So as Victoria’s gambling regulator we need to be confident that staff are actively approaching patrons who may be showing signs of gambling distress or playing for extended periods and encouraging them to take a break, said Ms Kuzman.

Compliance with the law is a bare minimum and during regional visits VGCCC inspectors want to see:

• a Responsible Gambling Officer on the gaming floor at all times
• no minors being allowed to gamble or in gaming machines areas
• YourPlay technology installed and working on all gaming machines
• compliance with CCTV requirements
• managers and staff being confident in following Responsible Service of Gambling obligations and any Ministerial Directions.     

Ms Kuzman said, “if we detect high-harm breaches we will take strong and swift action”.

Where breaches are more administrative or low-harm, the VGCCC will work with venues to provide specific education about their obligations under Victoria’s gambling laws and what they need to do to ensure their venue is operating safely and lawfully.

“But if we find venues are deliberately, opportunistically or knowingly breaking the law, we will have a zero tolerance approach.

“In metropolitan Melbourne we’ve been really impressed by how gaming venues have engaged with us and where breaches have been found, inspectors have gone back to find these venues have lifted their standards,” Ms Kuzman said.

“We hope this continues across regional Victoria.” 

Outside of our inspections, the community can report breaches at www.vgccc.vic.gov.au