Licensee sanctioned by VGCCC for violating self-exclusion rules
In Victoria, Australia, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has taken a significant step towards promoting responsible gambling and protecting vulnerable players by imposing a fine on Werribee RSL. The fine, amounting to approximately AUD$30,000 (€16,862), was issued due to the venue allowing two self-excluded customers to gamble, breaching the trust placed in them by those individuals who had voluntarily excluded themselves from gambling activities.
The VGCCC, responsible for enforcing regulations and requirements for self-exclusion programs, has emphasized the importance of venues prioritizing harm minimization responsibilities and ensuring the effective implementation of self-exclusion programs. These programs are designed to help individuals manage their gambling by temporarily or permanently blocking them from entering gambling areas of clubs, pubs, and casinos.
Werribee RSL's breach of self-exclusion obligations was not taken lightly by the VGCCC. The commission views taking disciplinary action as a last resort, preferring venues to comply with their legal obligations and effectively implement self-exclusion programs. However, the venue's failure to respect a person's decision to self-exclude may put customers at risk of experiencing gambling harm.
Since the investigation, Werribee RSL has taken remedial actions to strengthen its procedures. These include improved staff training, daily audits of the self-exclusion register, and increased use of technology to identify self-excluded customers. The VGCCC has recognised the licensee's cooperation during the investigation.
The regulatory investigation was initiated due to an anonymous tip-off in January 2024. Werribee RSL also self-reported another breach in May 2024, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and compliance.
The VGCCC's powers include issuing directions related to gambling practices, imposing welfare barring orders, and requiring gambling providers to implement self-exclusion in multiple venues for extended periods, potentially unlimited in length. This legal framework, outlined in the Gambling Administration Act 2019 and associated Gambling Administration Regulations 2020, empowers the commission to oversee compliance and penalize breaches.
The state-wide rollout of a carded play system, requiring guest registration via carded play, aims to standardize harm minimization measures and improve self-exclusion compliance across all venues in Victoria. Since December 2023, Crown Melbourne has implemented this system, enabling players to set limits and control their gaming activity.
In summary, the VGCCC requires gambling venues to operate robust self-exclusion programs enforced through registration, carded play, and the legal framework empowering the Commission to oversee compliance and penalize breaches. These measures align with a state-wide commitment to safer gambling and consumer protection in Victoria. The VGCCC emphasizes the importance of venues and their staff upholding the trust of self-excluded customers by respecting their decisions and implementing appropriate controls to prevent them from entering gaming rooms.
The VGCCC, in its role of enforcing responsible gambling practices, has emphasized the significance of casino-culture adhering to harm minimization responsibilities, especially in the implementation of casino-games self-exclusion programs. This step is crucial for preventing gambling-trends that may put vulnerable players at risk. Werribee RSL's breach of such obligations demonstrated the need for casinos to uphold a culture of responsible gambling, respecting a person's decision to self-exclude from casino-and-gambling activities.
