Victoria Cracks Down on Underage Gambling, Highlights Hurdles for Crypto iGaming

The Victoria Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has reported on its most extensive investigation into underage gambling.

The findings show regulatory lapses within the regulated gambling sector, resulting in 14 prosecutions, 98 charges, and nearly AUD $500,000 in financial penalties.

A mother reported her 17-year-old neurodiverse son was able to gamble at multiple locations in Victoria between May 2022 and 2023. The Commission undertook a thorough investigation, dedicating more than 2,000 hours to the probe. It found systemic failures in upholding legislation at ten entities.

Age verification remains an issue amongst the crypto iGaming community. Although some argue that blockchain is more transparent and certain facial recognition technology can allow anonymous age verification, having it accepted by governments is a further battle that may take some time.

VGCCC Prosecutes 14 Operators Following Underage Gambling Probe

A full list of fines levied by the VGCCC was as follows:

• Tabcorp (43 charges): Allowing a minor to gamble (30 charges), failing to supervise (13 charges), Total fine: $274,000
• Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) (23 charges across 5 venues): Allowing a minor to gamble (15 charges), failing to supervise (5 charges), minor entered gaming machine area (3 charges), Total fine: $175,000
• Preston Hotel (5 charges): Allowing a minor to gamble (4 charges), failing to supervise (1 charge), Total fine: $15,000
• The Brunswick Club (5 charges): Allowing a minor to gamble (3 charges), failing to supervise (1 charge), minor entered gaming machine area (1 charge), Total fine: $7,500
• Northcote TAB (4 charges): Allowing a minor to gamble (2 charges), failing to supervise (2 charges), Total fine: $7,000
• Olympic Hotel (6 charges): Allowing a minor to gamble (3 charges), failing to supervise (1 charge), minor entered gaming machine area (2 charges), Total fine: $5,000
• Parkview Hotel (3 charges): Allowing a minor to gamble (1 charge), failing to supervise (1 charge), minor entered gaming machine area (1 charge), Total fine: $4,000
• Coburg TAB (2 charges): Allowing a minor to gamble (1 charge), failing to supervise (1 charge), Total fine: $3,000
• Duke of Edinburgh (3 charges): Allowing a minor to gamble (1 charge), failing to supervise (1 charge), minor entered gaming machine area (1 charge), Total fine: $2,500
• Edwardes Lake Hotel (4 charges): Allowing a minor to gamble (2 charges), failing to supervise (2 charges), No fine, but paid $6,000 to a Court Fund for gambling support programs

In the above, failing to supervise means an absence of checks as provided for in Victoria legislation.

“Nothing can make up for the harm a Melbourne family experienced as a result of the failure by multiple operators to prevent a young teen from gambling between May 2022 and October 2023,” Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) CEO Annette Kimmitt commented in a statement.

“I can only imagine how difficult it was for the mother to come to us and I commend her for doing so,” Kimmitt continued. “I hope the outcomes and conclusion of these proceedings bring her some comfort, following the significant trauma she and her family have gone through.

She continued: “When industry is not diligent about complying with its legal and social obligations, the consequences for everyday Victorians can be serious and long-lasting, which is why the VGCCC is determined to hold operators to account.”

“It is a venue’s responsibility to ensure minors do not access a designated gambling area, let alone gamble, no matter how determined or convincing a child might be,” she concluded.

Trading Cards, Firearms, and Crypto ATMs: Inside Victoria’s Recent Crime Bust

Elsewhere in Victoria, the police discovered what was described as an “Aladdin’s cave” of stolen items after capturing a local crime syndicate that targeted the eclectic mix of collectible trading cards and cryptocurrency ATMs.

The raid last week discovered firearms, over a hundred car keys, tens of thousands in collector cards and six cryptocurrency ATMs.