Australia
Gaming Compliance Inspections Underway Across New South Wales
Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade
Liquor and Gaming New South Wales (NSW) is kicking off the next phase of its targeted compliance program to ensure pubs and clubs are complying with key gaming harm-minimization measures.
Phase two builds upon an already sustained compliance program that has seen more than 875 inspections over the past seven months. The first phase of the compliance program has resulted in 77 penalty notices issued for gaming-related breaches and the commencement of three prosecutions.
Under this next phase, a further 500 inspections are expected to be undertaken at pubs and clubs across the state with Liquor and Gaming NSW taking a zero-tolerance approach to any breaches of key gambling harm minimization measures.
The Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Executive Director at Liquor and Gaming NSW, Jane Lin, said while most venues were found to be compliant, inspectors are still identifying serious issues.
These include:
ā¢ Venues not operating in accordance with their primary purpose, meaning they are only operating gambling areas or only operating the bar in the gaming room
ā¢ The placement of ATMs in areas where gaming machines are located
ā¢ Patrons needing to pass through gaming rooms to access other parts of a venue.
āGaming harm-minimization measures are designed to ensure a safe gaming industry and limit the harm that can be associated with gambling,ā Lin said. āFailure to comply with these requirements carries penalties up to $5,500 and is grounds for disciplinary action.
āOur compliance program is all about promoting a culture of safer gambling and protecting patrons and the wider community from problems associated with excessive gambling.ā
Under this next phase of the compliance program inspectors will be visiting dozens of venues across metropolitan and regional NSW. These include venues in the Greater Sydney area as well as the Liverpool Plains, Tamworth, Armidale, Uralla, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Singleton, Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook local government areas.
āOur inspectors will also be observing any gaming signage during the course of these inspections and will be happy to provide information and answer any questions venue operators may have about the signage ban, which comes into force on September 1,ā Lin said.
Australia
Nerida OāLoughlin Reappointed as ACMA Chair
The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Rtd), has accepted the Albanese Governmentās recommendation that Ms Nerida OāLoughlin PSM be reappointed as Chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Ms OāLoughlin has been reappointed for a three-year term, commencing on 14 October 2024, having first been appointed in 2017 and reappointed in 2022.
The Chair has extensive executive and regulatory experience, and is well respected across the sector. Her reappointment provides continuity as the ACMA works to deliver important outcomes for consumers and industry in the communications and media sectors, and implement reforms being undertaken by Government.
In her current term, Ms OāLoughlin has led the ACMAās work to strengthen telecommunications consumer safeguards, particularly for vulnerable Australians, overseen the establishment of BetStop ā the National Self-Exclusion Register and Australiaās first SMS ID Registry ā and taken strong enforcement of anti-scam and illegal gambling rules.
Ms OāLoughlin has also led important work on media diversity, misinformation and disinformation on digital platforms, and supported improved digital connectivity through the allocation of valuable radiocommunications spectrum.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
āI congratulate Ms Nerida OāLoughlin PSM on her reappointment as Chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
āSince her appointment in 2017, Ms OāLoughlin has led the ACMA to deliver important reforms and regulatory activities in the communications and media industries.
āThis includes better supporting consumers facing financial hardship pressures in paying their telecommunications bills, mitigating consumer harms in gambling advertising, enforcing anti-scam rules and taking enforcement action against corporations for non-compliance with Australiaās spam unsubscribe rules.
āThe Chairās continuity will provide the Authority ongoing certainty as the Albanese Government continues its important media and digital platforms reform agenda.
āI look forward to continue working with Ms OāLoughlin as the ACMA Chair.ā
Australia
Crown Reinstated at Sydney Casino
The NSW Independent Casino Commission has found Crown Sydney suitable to retain its casino licence after nearly three years of intensive remediation.
Chief Commissioner, Philip Crawford, said Crown has come a long way and must now demonstrate its long-term commitment to maintaining suitability.
āThe NICC is confident the Crown we deemed suitable today has a strong model to keep operating into the future,ā Mr Crawford said.
The NICCās suitability assessment established that Crown Sydney has fundamentally reformed its business and is operating the casino within the objects of the Act, the requirements of the suitability deed, and in compliance with its regulatory obligations.
In addition to proving it can run the casino lawfully, Crown has remediated its business in other meaningful ways such as building a culture of transparency and accountability across its integrated resort.
āHard work and transformation aside, the NICC has not forgotten the level of misconduct exposed in 2021 when Crown was found unsuitable,ā said Mr Crawford.
āCrown Sydney has ongoing work to reach steady state and it must continue to lift standards and maintain its cultural transformation.
āThere is and will always be room for improvement, but Crown is a changed business that is looking toward the future.
āLikewise, the NICC is a changed regulator with enhanced powers, a singular focus on casinos, and a mandate to address the risks of harm.
āThis decision is a positive outcome for Crown Sydney, its staff, and the community ā who can be sure the NICC will use all of its powers to keep the casino in check.ā
In addition to the implementation of hundreds of new internal controls, the Bergin-based reforms have been reflected in a new licence and new regulatory agreement between Crown Sydney, the NSW Government and the NICC.
These agreements include updated settings, such as the removal of fetters to the NICCās powers, as well as previous compensation trigger clauses that are no longer part of the casino legislation.
Mr Crawford said: āCrown cannot disregard the responsibility and privilege that comes with holding a casino licence. Crown Sydneyās ability to provide a destination hospitality and entertainment venue underpinned by the restricted gaming facility is contingent on its steadfast commitment to continuing suitability, accountability and compliance.ā
Australia
Tabcorp Partners with OpenBetās Sportsbook Technology to Propel Growth and Enhance User Experience
OpenBetās robust betting engine and sophisticated trading system to enhance Australian operatorās user experience and operational efficiencies
OpenBet, a leading content, platform and service provider to the sports betting industry, has been selected to supply its scalable betting engine and advanced trading system to Australian wagering giant Tabcorp as the tier-one operator pursues ambitious growth plans.
OpenBet will integrate a series of online and retail products including its fixed-odds betting platform and trading system for its world-class content portfolio to help amplify the offering for Tabcorpās flagship brand, TAB.
Underpinned by a dedicated excellence team working with TAB for continuous development and innovation, OpenBetās pioneering technology and services will provide improved agility, scalability and speed-to-market for new and differentiated products that will redefine the TAB user experience. Tabcorp will also benefit from enhanced operational efficiency and streamlined processes through OpenBetās proven solutions.
As Australiaās largest gaming and betting operator, Tabcorp has a rich history of providing market-leading products to its customers. With more than 3,000 employees, the company continues to grow and aims to further increase its market share over the coming years.
OpenBetās expertise in operating within some of the worldās strictest regulated markets was a major factor in Tabcorpās decision in selecting the company as its latest technology provider. IntegratingĀ OpenBetās globally respected platform and products within Tabcorpās technology ecosystem comprising of proprietary capabilities across trading, digital experience and data is a perfect fit for market leading innovation, enhanced operational capability and delivering an unparalleled user experience to Tabcorpās customers.
This deal strengthens OpenBetās reputation as a trusted provider to the global sports betting industry. It currently processes almost half of all digital sports bets placed in the Australian market and with this deal will significantly increase that and, for the first time, bring our retail sports betting capability to Australia. Coupled with Tabcorpās clear progress on accelerating its transformation and innovation with a focus on agility, product delivery and customer experience, this has the ingredients for a great partnership.
āBeing selected by Tabcorp to augment its user experience is an exciting move for us and further cements our position as a trusted provider of robust, hybrid products that drive growth,ā the Chief Commercial Officer for OpenBet, Cathryn Lai, said. āWeāre looking forward to working alongside the TAB team and providing it with tailored products and services that will usher in a new era for its sportsbook offering. We have no doubt that the operatorās customer base will benefit from an enhanced experience through our unbeatable technology and trading services.ā
āWeāre thrilled to be strategically partnering with OpenBet to enable our growth ambitions and beyond,ā the Trading General Manager for Tabcorp, David Beirne, said. āThe combined strengths of Tabcorpās category expertise and internal capabilities and OpenBetās advanced core creates a market leading relationship that will lead to increased customer engagement, market share and sustainable profitability.
āThis partnership will propel Tabcorpās trading capabilities to the top of the market as it will allow Tabcorp to utilise OpenBetās cutting-edge technology to deliver a first-class digital and retail experience for our customers at pace in exciting and innovative ways.
āThis partnership is a significant step forward in modernising and supporting our ambitious plans to deliver the next generation sports betting user journey.ā
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