Poker machine trading hours have been the subject of a new notice issued by the regulator in Victoria.

Poker machine trading hours have been the subject of a new notice issued by the regulator in Victoria.

 The Victoria Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has issued yet another reminder to operators in the Australian state that they may be subject to financial penalties if they grant access to poker machine areas outside of the hours that are permitted for trading.
 A poker machine named Victoria
 In Victoria, new legislation regarding the times at which customers are permitted to wager on poker machines went into effect in August of last year.  Between the hours of four and ten in the morning, venues are now obligated to close areas that contain these machines.

 In spite of this, the VGCCC reported that several establishments have continued to violate the newly implemented regulations regarding opening hours.  In light of this, it has reached out to the industry today (9 April) to bring to their attention the risks that are associated with failing to comply with legislation.

 This comes in advance of the public holidays that are observed on Good Friday and ANZAC Day, which are scheduled to take place on April 18 and April 25, respectively, this year.  On public holidays, there may be additional limits placed on the hours that establishments are permitted to operate under their liquor licenses.

 In the year 2024, Victoria venues were fined AU$195,000.
 In addition, the VGCCC disclosed that a number of operators had violated the legislation governing operating hours for these days in the previous year, prior to the rule change that was implemented in the summer of last year.  A total of AU$195,000 (£90,910/€105,532/US$116,686) was levied as a fine against fourteen different establishments, while four other sites were given warnings of censure.

 Last year, the Melbourne Racing Club was the most severely affected, with fines amounting to a total of $60,000.  On Good Friday, they were distributed to three establishments that authorised visitors to play poker machines outside of the typical operating hours.  The Peninsula Club, Steeples, and The Coach and Horses were all found to be in violation of the regulations.

 A punishment of thirty thousand dollars was levied against Hoppers Crossing Club for violations that occurred on both Good Friday and ANZAC Day.  A total of $22,234 in poker machine turnover was created for the venue as a result of operating outside of its official operating hours.

 Twenty thousand dollars in fines were levied against the Goulburn Valley Hotel, while the Peninsula Hotel Motel and the Court House Hotel each received fifteen thousand dollars in fines.  Furthermore, letters of condemnation were dispatched to the Sale and District Greyhound Racing Club, the Wonthaggi Golf Club, the Altona RSL, and the Portland Memorial Bowling Club.

 The new head of the VGCCC encourages prudence.
 Suzy Neilan, who was just recently appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the VGCCC, asked venues to examine the guidelines in advance.  It was stated by her that this will make it obvious when they will be able to allow poker machine sections to open.

 According to her, "In Victoria, the availability of poker machines is restricted to the hours that a venue is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages."  There is a possibility that people will be subject to further restrictions on Good Friday, ANZAC Day, and Christmas Day.

 In light of the fact that Good Friday is drawing near, I strongly recommend that establishments make certain that they are aware of, comprehend, and comply with the requirements of their license, and that they only use their poker machines during the hours that are permitted.

 Neilan stated that the financial penalties may vary for those locations in Victoria that do in fact violate the restrictions.  When determining whether or not to issue sanctions, the VGCCC takes into account the amount of income made, the length of time that customers were allowed to gamble outside of the permitted hours, and the venue's history of compliance.

 In the event that a venue does not adhere to the regulations that are in place in the state of Victoria, the regulator does not hesitate to levy fines.  As a result of underage gaming, the Peninsula Club in Dromana was given a $7,000 fine in the month of March.  Two separate instances on June 10, 2023, the club permitted a minor to enter the gambling area of the establishment.

 In February, fines were also handed to two other venues in Victoria, bringing to a close a lengthy investigation into how an underage kid with neurodivergent characteristics was able to gamble at multiple places.