Victoria gambling regulator issues AU$100K fine

The gambling regulator in Victoria, Australia, announced it imposed a monetary sanction against a gambling license applicant who breached the established regulations when applying.

Gambling license applicant fails to disclose criminal offending

On Tuesday, the regulator, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), announced it issued a monetary penalty against Goulburn Valley Hotel (GVH) Shepparton Pty Ltd.

The fine came after the Commission uncovered that the operator failed to disclose two criminal offenses when applying for a license several years ago.

In November 2022, GVH submitted a license application, requesting to operate 40 poker machines at the Shepparton hotel.

However, the VGCCC uncovered that the applicant was previously found guilty of two counts of negligent dealing with proceeds of crime.

Although both counts, dating from June of the same year, were without convictions, GVH was required to notify the gambling regulator about them.

Considering that the license applicant failed to disclose information regarding the criminal offending, it was found to have breached the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic).

Due to the aforementioned violation, GVH received a AU$100,000 fine.

In addition to the monetary penalty, the VGCCC enforced additional license and reporting conditions to GVH, along with another operator connected to the license applicant called Pan Hotels Pty Ltd.

Considering the fine and additional license conditions, the gambling regulator in Victoria encouraged the public to report potential breaches or suspicions of unacceptable behavior.

The regulations seek to ensure the integrity and safety of the gambling sector

VGCCC's CEO, Annette Kimmitt AM, commented on the topic acknowledging that failure to disclose criminal offending is a breach of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic).

"By providing wrong information, an applicant impedes the regulator from fully assessing their suitability to hold a license," she added.

The gambling regulator's CEO added that the size of the monetary penalty "reflects the severity of the offense and should demonstrate to other applicants and operators that we’re serious about compliance with legal obligations."

Kimmitt stressed that the Commission expects gambling license applicants to comply with the laws and at the same time provide the necessary information when filing requests.

"This is a critical part of ensuring that the gambling industry operates with safety and integrity and is free from criminal influence or exploitation," said VGCCC's CEO in conclusion.

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