The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has recently intensified its crackdown on underage gambling in Victoria, imposing a fine of AUD 7,000 (USD 4,360) on the Victorian Amateur Racing Club.
Australia has been rigorously tackling underage gambling issues lately, emphasized by former VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt, who stated that the organization will continue to investigate and penalize venues that allow children into slot machine areas.
This recent fine stems from an incident on June 10, 2023, where a child visited the Peninsula Club twice and entered the gambling area. In both instances, the child was able to use the slot machines without any staff intervention.
During the second visit, the child entered with an adult and played the slot machines for about five minutes before staff intervened.
No convictions resulted from this incident, but the owner of the Peninsula Club (Victorian Amateur Racing Club) was charged with two violations of the 2003 Victorian Gambling Regulation Act. These fines included USD 7,000 and an additional USD 3,500 paid to the VGCCC.
It is worth noting: Annette Kimmitt resigned from her position at VGCCC in December 2024 and will step down at the end of March.
Two other cases involving minors have also been brought to court by the VGCCC and are expected to conclude this year. Supreme Edinburgh PTY Ltd pleaded guilty to three charges under the Gambling Regulation Act and was fined USD 2,500. Another case involved Correct Bet Pty Ltd, which was fined USD 3,000 for allowing underage gambling at its venue.
In discussing this crackdown, Kimmitt stated, "This is a warning to every venue. You have a responsibility to ensure that children cannot enter gambling areas or participate in any gambling activities, even if they are accompanied by adults... These rules are in place to protect children from the harms of gambling."
