The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission announced enforcement action against a total of 12 gaming venues due certain violations. Some of these properties were fined for allowing players to gamble outside permitted trading hours, while others were slammed with censure warnings.
VGCCC Penalized 12 Properties
In its official announcement, the VGCCC listed several operators that have violated its rules, prompting disciplinary action. According to the authority, 9 venue operators had allowed players to gamble on poker machines outside permitted trading hours on the 2025 Good Friday and ANZAC Day public holidays.
Clayton RSL was slammed with the largest fine out of all, receiving an AUD 15,000 penalty due to its misconduct. The Brunswick Club came in second in terms of fine size and was required to pay AUD 12,000.
Freccia Azzurra Club, on the other hand, received a fine of AUD 5,000 for similar violations. Kerang Sports and Entertainment Venue was also handed an AUD 5,000 fine, while Lakes Entrance RSL received an AUD 3,000 penalty. Mansfield Golf Club was similarly hit with an AUD 3,000 penalty, while Sebastopol Bowling Club, Moonee Ponds Club, and Sunbury United Sporting Club were slammed with fines of AUD 5,000 each.
In addition to these 9 venues, the VGCCC also issued censure warnings to three other venues. These include the following:
- The Bridge Hotel
- Swan Hill Club
- Sunbury Bowling Club
For Context, Victoria’s permitted hours of operation on poker machines are strictly restricted and in line with operators’ working liquor license hours. These hours usually have additional restrictions on public holidays, such as Good Friday and ANZAC Day.
Other Recent Regulatory Action in Victoria
The fines come shortly after the VGCCC slammed Crown Melbourne with a fine after an excluded gambler was allowed to spend nearly 15 hours playing at the casino without intervention. According to VGCCC officials, Crown only became aware of the issue once it was informed by a VGCCC inspector.
In October, the authority slapped the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group with a penalty due to underage gambling-related charges.