Established in July 2022, the VGCCC serves as a reminder to operators about their responsibility to exercise duty of care towards their customers.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has released a statement emphasizing the imperative for the gambling industry in Victoria to prioritize the reduction of gambling harm.
The recently published statement by VGCCC establishes that preventing gambling harm is a top priority for all regulatory decisions and actions. Chairperson Fran Thorn emphasizes the need to hold gambling operators accountable beyond regulatory obligations, paralleling the established link between gambling and harm to that of smoking and cancer. The VGCCC challenges the traditional narrative by emphasizing that gambling operators have a duty of care to prevent harm to customers and the broader community, moving away from the narrow focus on “problem gambling” or “responsible gambling” failures.
The statement warns that despite lawful status, gambling offerings can be inherently harmful. Failure to fulfill the duty of care may lead to scrutiny and questions about compliance with legal obligations. VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt asserts a zero-tolerance approach towards operators who intentionally disregard obligations to protect the community from gambling harm, emphasizing the expectation for operators to conduct themselves decently, not just legally.
VGCCC has implemented various initiatives, including integrating harm minimization criteria in evaluating applications for electronic gaming machines, imposing additional conditions for venues seeking to increase gaming machines, and introducing bet limits and reinvestment restrictions in online gaming. Additionally, specific measures have been implemented at Crown Casino to safeguard at-risk individuals from targeted marketing.
