Australia
Charlotte Wilson: Key Takeaways from Regulating The Game In Sydney
The action-packed event, which took place from March 7th to March 11th, was a huge success. The event included multiple partners and key industry players who provided invaluable insights for the gambling regulation.
The collaboration between the International Center for Gaming Law (ICGR) and the prestigious Senet body—gambling Australia’s law, regulatory, and compliance body—set the precedent and provided training on cutting-edge gambling regulatory frameworks suited to the dynamic modern gambling landscape.
Australia-Casino journalist Charlotte Wilson closely followed the Sydney event and identified a wide range of gambling regulation issues raised by different experts. According to Charlotte, the training provided a concise road map for improving the gaming environment in order to ensure guaranteed safety and long-term gambling practices that adhere to national and international legal frameworks. Below is a summary of the event’s proceedings as recorded by Charlotte Wilson.
“Regulating The Game” Intensive Training Program
According to the event organizers, the main goal of the event was to provide intensive training. The mission is to significantly improve key players’ sector knowledge, organizational capabilities in the Australian gambling market, and generate discourse for best practices in the current regulatory framework. The hope is to foster progressive thinking to secure the future of the rapidly growing industry.
The five-day event, in particular, challenged the existing status quo in the local gambling industry. Contesting the current operational models used by the majority of providers from an outsider’s perspective. The initiative “Regulating The Game” was a call to action for the sector’s leadership. Instigating such players to be more curious, contest existing ideas, collectively share insights on best ways to overcome the challenges posed by public policy, and also create a new culture. One that strives to continuously improve the gambling environment in Australia.
Senet’s Overview of Australia’s Gambling Industry
Money laundering and other criminal activities in the local gambling market, according to Paul Newson, a Senet gambling regulations specialist in Australia, take advantage of existing regulatory loopholes. Paul Newson stated that Senet is at the forefront of dealing with compliance issues among local providers. He urged all industry players to be proactive in responding to regulatory deficiencies in order to build a more resilient sector.
“All stakeholders must be proactive and play an active role in the public square,” Paul said during the five-day conference. Their input must be supplemented by taking into account the views of other stakeholders. It is the most effective strategy for influencing public policy in favor of an all-encompassing and equitable regulatory framework that is tailored to current security threats undermining the gambling industry.”
Ways Attendees Will Benefit From the Program
The expert content presented in the “Regulating The Game” training, as well as the networking platform that encouraged debate among key sector players, piqued the participants’ interest. The event’s general atmosphere broke down barriers among Australia’s gambling providers, resulting in candid discussions about sector issues, prospective opportunities, and potential risk factors.
Not all attendees in the integrated environment understood or applied regulatory principles to leverage advantages such as formulating tried and tested public policies, capitalizing on emerging trends in the global gambling industry, or implementing intelligent risk-based policies to protect their entities from fraudsters.
The partnership between International Center for Gaming Law (ICGR) and Australia
The International Center for Gaming Regulation, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (ICGR) collaborated seamlessly with Australian gambling industry leaders. The five-day event brought together experts in research, law, intelligence, public policy, investigations, and regulation, making it a one-of-a-kind and well-rounded gathering. Such is not typical in the Australian market.
ACMA, which enforces Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act, AUSTRAC, the official financial intelligence unit in Australia’s gambling niche, and the AML/CTF regulator were among the key figures in the event. Bringing such actors together is difficult, but the event achieved an impeccable balance that evoked a collaborative effort between these bodies. The various representatives discussed emerging risks in the gambling industry, their personal priorities, and their position on the current regulatory framework.
Key Resolutions from “Regulating The Game” Training
The main takeaways from the historic event include the established opportunity for gambling operators and regulators to form a long-term relationship that could shape a prosperous future for Australia’s industry. The collaboration of Australian gambling regulation specialists and international regulators provided a road map for local providers to national and international expansion. In addition, the local market resolved to engage in healthy and productive competition through networking channels that inform compliance and regulatory policy.
Recap
Australia’s gambling market is unlike any other in the world, and it has enormous growth potential. The Queensland government valued the market at more than $225 billion in 2019. This figure skyrocketed due to an increase in online gamblers during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic, and the resulting containment measures. Initiatives such as “Regulating The Game” help to consolidate the Australian market and ensure a unified regulatory front in the industry’s expansion efforts.
Charlotte Wilson has been an iGaming journalist for Australia-Casino since 2019. Contact information: [email protected]
Australia
SkyCity Appoints Jason Walbridge as Chief Executive Officer
SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited has appointed Jason Walbridge as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Jason has more than two decades of senior executive public company experience in the global land-based and online gaming industries. He is currently a Strategic Advisor to global gaming and technology company Aristocrat Leisure Limited on its proposed acquisition of NeoGames S.A, and Executive Chairman of National Entertainment Network LLC, the largest amusement route operator in the US. He has been appointed to the role after an extensive international search.
SkyCity Board Chair Julian Cook said: “The Board is delighted to announce Jason’s appointment as CEO of SkyCity, and we are looking forward to the valuable contribution Jason will make to the business. Jason has extensive global experience in the land-based and online gaming industries, which will position him well to lead SkyCity through its next phases.”
Mr Walbridge said: “It will be a privilege to lead SkyCity, and I am excited to be joining the business at this time as SkyCity looks to pursue the many opportunities ahead of it.”
Mr Walbridge is expected to start in early July 2024, following his move back to New Zealand.
Prior to his current roles, Mr Walbridge held roles with the online gaming supplier NYX Gaming Group Limited and its acquirer Light & Wonder Inc, and before that he spent 18 years with Aristocrat Leisure Limited where he held executive leadership roles in New Zealand and the US. Previously, he held senior roles within consulting, including with Ernst & Young, and was an Officer in the New Zealand Defence Force. Mr Walbridge holds an MBA in International Management from the Auckland Institute of Studies.
Mr Cook confirmed that Callum Mallett will continue as Interim Chief Executive Officer until Mr Walbridge’s commencement date.
“I’d like to thank Callum for his continued leadership and his support during this period,” Mr Cook said.
Australia
VGCCC Fines BlueBet AU$50,000 for Gambling Advertising Breaches
BlueBet has been fined AU$50,000 by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for breaching gambling advertising regulations.
The company was found guilty of 43 charges related to displaying gambling advertisements on or above public roads, contravening the Gambling Regulation Act 2003.
The charges stemmed from an investigation initiated by VGCCC, following a complaint from a member of the public. The breaches occurred over a two-week period in August and September 2022, with BlueBet’s gambling advertisements appearing on digital billboards at various locations, including Point Cook, Laverton, Rockbank and Ravenhall.
Magistrate Greg Thomas, overseeing the case, expressed scepticism about BlueBet’s defence that it was unaware of the breaches, given the strategic placement of the billboards to target males aged 15-54 years old. While no conviction was recorded, Magistrate Thomas noted the high degree of negligence exhibited by BlueBet.
VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM said: “Gambling advertising has no place on public roads where it is readily visible to children and other vulnerable groups. These places are especially difficult to avoid as part of day-to-day activities. This decision sends a clear message to wagering providers that flout these protections for our community.”
Although Magistrate Thomas considered imposing a higher fine and recording a conviction, he took into account BlueBet’s guilty plea, cooperation with VGCCC and measures taken to prevent future breaches. BlueBet has implemented changes to prevent similar incidents and has cooperated with VGCCC throughout the process.
Australia
VGCCC Introduces New Rules for Wagering Account Statements
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has introduced new standards for how activity statements should be presented to wagering account holders. The new standards require providers to use plain English and avoid unnecessary vocabulary. The use of colours is limited to black and red to represent losses.
The VGCCC took the measure after finding inconsistencies in the way information was displayed on sample activity statements across different providers. Account holders must be able to see how much of their own money they have lost, with free and bonus bets excluded from the net loss figures. Net wins must be shown with stakes deducted. The gambling harm taglines that appear at the end of wagering ads must be displayed on each statement.
The new standards came into force on April 1. Failure to comply could result in a penalty of 60 penalty units, equivalent to AU$11,538.60 for each non-compliant activity statement issued.
VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM said: “The days of inconsistent player activity statements are over. Wagering account holders will be better informed about their spending – and therefore better equipped to make informed decisions about their gambling – thanks to the clarity and fairness these changes bring.”
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