Latest News
VGCCC: Minors Exposed to Gambling at ALH Venues
Victorian venues are putting young people at risk when they turn a blind eye to, or otherwise fail to prevent, minors entering poker machine areas, according to Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) CEO Suzy Neilan.
Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) was fined $38,000 without conviction in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria for offences involving 3 minors at 3 venues on 4 dates in 2024.
ALH pleaded guilty to 6 charges, having self-reported the breaches to the VGCCC, which Ms Neilan said was important to recognise as a positive step towards improving industry practices.
“Being accountable for wrongdoing demonstrates integrity, which has been a focus of the VGCCC’s ongoing work with gambling operators,” she said.
“But it’s not enough to own up after the fact. Venues must be proactive about ensuring that minors do not access poker machine areas by ensuring they have in place appropriate systems, processes and staff.
“Operators should undertake a risk assessment and put in place controls to prevent minors from entering gambling areas. Some examples of controls could include displaying clear signage that the poker machine room is for adults only and checking the identification of anyone who appears under 25 years of age.”
Ms Neilan said it was not acceptable that any Victorian clubs and hotels – in this case, the Cramers and Excelsior hotels – were repeat offenders.
A 17-year-old was able to enter the poker machine area of Cramers Hotel in Preston multiple times without having to show ID, despite several interactions with staff and visits to the poker machine area on 24 January 2024. Staff intervened on 25 January 2024 only after the underage teen placed his belongings next to a poker machine.
Separately, a child in the company of 2 adults entered the poker machine area of the Excelsior Hotel in Thomastown on 24 April 2024. The child, who was seated with one of the adults, pressed buttons on the poker machine before they were both escorted from the area.
And on 27 September 2024, a 14-year-old boy entered the poker machine room of the Mountain View Hotel in Glen Waverley and gambled on a poker machine before staff intervened.
Ms Neilan said the VGCCC would continue to be vigilant about prosecuting venues for allowing minors to access the gambling areas of their premises, but that “prevention is better than cure”.
“I encourage all hotels and clubs to review their operations, including staff training, and consider making any adjustments required to ensure compliance with the law.”
In addition to the fine, the Magistrate ordered ALH to pay VGCCC’s legal costs of $40,000. The Magistrate also noted that but for the guilty plea, he would have fined ALH $90,000 and recorded a criminal conviction.
Summary of charges:
Incident 1 – Cramers Hotel:
Charge 1: Offences in respect of a minor entering a gaming machine area
Charge 2: Offences in respect of allowing a minor to gamble
Incident 2 – Excelsior Hotel:
Charge 3: Offences in respect of a minor entering a gaming machine area
Charge 4: Offences in respect of allowing a minor to gamble
Incident 3 – Mountain View Hotel:
Charge 5: Offences in respect of a minor entering a gaming machine area
Charge 6: Offences in respect of allowing a minor to gamble.
The post VGCCC: Minors Exposed to Gambling at ALH Venues appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News
Relax Gaming gets the party started with Groovy Knights Dream Drop
Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has launched Groovy Knights Dream Drop, its latest slot release packed with funky features and lucrative jackpot potential.
Groovy Knights brings a fresh disco twist to the popular Dream Drop series, giving players the chance to spin their way to wins of up to 10,000x a Dream Drop jackpot worth up to €2 million, and if that wasn’t enough, brand-new Daily Jackpots as well.
Set across a vibrant 5×4 reel layout, Groovy Knights Dream Drop is designed to keep the energy high with features that include Knight Re-Spins, Walking Wilds, multipliers up to 100x, and a ‘second chance’ mechanic to keep players in the groove.
Landing one or more Knights triggers a Knight Re-Spin, where the funky knights dance across the reels, boosting wins and multipliers as they go. When two Knights meet, the Disco Knight Feature kicks in for even bigger rewards. Players looking to jump straight into the action can use the Buy Feature to guarantee an immediate Knight Re-Spin or a Disco Knight for maximum entertainment.
True to the Dream Drop name, the jackpot bonus can trigger on any spin when the word ‘Dream’ lands on the top row, giving players a shot at one of five progressive jackpots, including the new Daily Jackpot.
Relax Gaming continues to expand its award-winning portfolio with titles designed to deliver unique gameplay, innovative mechanics and market-leading jackpot experiences.
Kunal Patel-Smith, Game Production Director at Relax Gaming, said: “With Groovy Knights Dream Drop, we’ve brought together a fun disco theme with our proven Dream Drop mechanics and some fresh twists to keep players engaged. The combination of lively features, strong win potential, and a must-win jackpot makes this a standout addition to our growing Dream Drop family.”
The post Relax Gaming gets the party started with Groovy Knights Dream Drop appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
WA. Technology Launches New Global Sportsbook Managed Service
The post WA. Technology Launches New Global Sportsbook Managed Service appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
ClearStake ditches the passport with launch of revolutionary new ID product
ClearStake, the digital due diligence specialists for the iGaming industry, has released ID by Bank, a new player identity and verification product.
ID by Bank is designed to minimise operator exposure to identity fraud, while also significantly reducing the player drop-off when requesting physical ID documents.
The new product fundamentally changes the way operators can identify and verify players. By securely confirming name, address and date of birth in real time via a player’s banking app, ClearStake delivers a solution that meets the Gambling Commission’s requirements for electronic verification providers.
This innovation comes at a critical time for the industry, with operators facing rising levels of identity fraud, including false documentation, deepfake videos and face swaps generated by artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, opt-in rates for physical document scans also remain stubbornly low.
It is the first time such a product has been available to iGaming operators in the UK, dramatically streamlining compliance processes, increasing player opt-in rate and combating fraud.
Martin Burt, CEO at ClearStake, said: “We all know about the challenges around physical document requests, and how they adversely impact the customer experience at registration and for later life customer due diligence checks. This new product is a natural fit for the ClearStake solution, offering a pathway to something far more efficient, where players can be identified to the highest standards without needing to upload a passport or driver’s license. It’s a fundamental paradigm shift in how operators ID their players, and we’re excited to lead the way as the first to bring this to the iGaming industry.”
The post ClearStake ditches the passport with launch of revolutionary new ID product appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Latest News3 months ago
SARA TENDULKAR JOINS JETSYNTHESYS’ GLOBAL E-CRICKET PREMIER LEAGUE AS MUMBAI FRANCHISE OWNER FOR SEASON 2
-
Latest News2 months ago
Exclusive Q&A With Bar Konson, Chief Business Development Officer at NuxGame
-
Latest News2 months ago
Week 17/2025 slot games releases
-
Latest News2 months ago
Fortuna Partners with 2025 UEFA Under-21 EURO
-
Latest News2 months ago
Esports World Cup Foundation Confirms Full Game Lineup, Schedule, and Club Championship Rules for EWC 2025
-
Latest News2 months ago
ELA Games Receives Key Nomination at EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards
-
Latest News3 months ago
DreamPlay consolidates its status as a global player in the iGaming industry and opens an office and campus in Cyprus
-
Latest News2 months ago
ACR POKER’S NEXT HIGH STAKES ADVENTURE TAKES PLAYERS TO MONTENEGRO FOR PRESTIGIOUS SUPER HIGH ROLLER SERIES
You must be logged in to post a comment Login