- Published:
- Monday 2 August 2021
The Andrews Labor Government will overhaul the regulation of gambling in Victoria by establishing a new casino and gambling regulator, with a dedicated casino regulation division focused solely on holding Melbourne’s casino operator to account.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) will have oversight of all gambling and gaming activities within Victoria – from pokies through to the casino.
The VGCCC’s structure and governance has been guided by the independent review into casino regulation, led by eminent regulatory and public policy reform expert Deborah Cope.
The review has occurred in parallel with the Royal Commission and has made recommendations to Government regarding the appropriate regulatory requirements.
The new regulator will have greater oversight in monitoring gambling harm minimisation measures in the casino and gambling sectors than the existing regulator.
Unlike the existing regulator – the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) – the new overarching body will not regulate liquor licencing, ensuring its focus is solely on regulating our casino and gambling operators and minimising harm.
Prior to changes under the Liberal Government in 2012, liquor and gambling were regulated by two standalone control agencies. Our changes will see governance return to a model that has a specific and separate focus on liquor and gambling regulation.
A dedicated casino regulation division will sit within the new gambling regulator and focus solely on the casino operator.
This division will have specialist leadership and staff, as well as access to shared resources and gambling and licensing expertise from the broader regulator.
Further details of the new regulatory arrangements will be finalised over the coming months and will take into account the final Cope report and the findings of the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence.
The Chair of the new regulator will be announced in due course.
There will be no disruption to regulatory activity, with the VCGLR to continue its work while the new regulator is established.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne
“We said we’d take action to strengthen casino oversight, and that’s what we’re doing with the establishment of a new gambling and casino regulator.”
“Unethical practices in the gambling industry won’t be tolerated – the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission will provide robust regulation of the Melbourne casino and wider gambling activity across the state.”