Tower Hotel in Victoria is facing 34 charges for allegedly operating gaming machines without the mandatory YourPlay pre-commitment technology. An additional charge was filed for a failure to ensure staff had completed compulsory training.
Victoria licensees are required to install YourPlay on gaming machines, which allows users to set limits on time and money spent and track their machine play.
In response to the charges, the VGCCC has ordered Tower Hotel to cease operating gaming machines until the matter is rectified. The maximum fine for the 35 charges is AU$758,172.
“Any venue operator that fails to provide players with the ability to set limits through the YourPlay system is in breach of a key legal obligation aimed at protecting the community from gambling harm,” said VGCCC chief executive Annette Kimmitt.
The VGCCC has also recently taken action against Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) for similar breaches. Following an anonymous tip-off, the regulator found 220 gaming machines at ALH venues running without YourPlay installed. ALH was fined $550,000 and ordered to pay VGCCC legal costs of $50,000.
In addition, BlueBet has been charged for breaching rules on advertising and could face a fine of up to $945,187. BlueBet displayed three gambling ads on billboards in Victoria, which violated state laws.
Tabcorp received the largest fine of $1.0m for its conduct during a major system outage in 2020. The VGCCC criticized Tabcorp’s conduct and its response to directions from the regulator.
