SBC News

NHS psychiatric morbidity survey reveals low rate of problem gambling and gambling participation

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The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) has published trends and insights on mental health and common disorders impacting the treatment of adults in the UK.

Commissioned by NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) the study provides insights and the prevalence of the UK’s nine most common mental health disorders including, depression, bipolar, psychosis, ADHD, OCD, trauma, phobias, drug addiction and problem gambling.

Among these, the APMS sheds new light on problem gambling—not as a standalone behavioural issue but as one frequently linked with deeper mental health challenges. Based on structured clinical interviews and a nationally representative sample, the survey finds that just 0.3% of adults in England meet the clinical threshold for problem gambling, with 0.9% of those who gambled in the past year affected.

This figure sits far below the 2.5% prevalence rate cited by the Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) in 2023. That contrast has sparked debate over statistical rigour.

Gambling advisory Regulus Partners, has criticised the Commission’s handling of gambling regulation, argues that the GSGB “remains an outlier when compared to all other official statistics on the prevalence of harmful gambling stretching back almost two decades.”

The APMS, in contrast, offers a clinical, methodologically transparent account. Its true value lies not in prevalence comparisons, but in its analysis of comorbidity: the strong and consistent overlap between problem gambling and psychiatric disorders.

Mental Health applies across all data

Problem gambling in the APMS is revealed to be tightly interwoven with mental ill-health. Adults identified as problem gamblers were substantially more likely to report symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, and suicidal thoughts or behaviours. They were also more likely to experience problem debt, unemployment, domestic violence, or trauma.

“Problem gambling, although rare, is consistently associated with a greater burden of psychological, financial and social distress,” the report concludes.

The survey also shows that problem gamblers are more likely to be receiving counselling or psychiatric medication, suggesting that they are already visible within the health system—but perhaps not always recognised through the lens of gambling-related harm.

Sharper focus on shrinking base…
Interestingly, the APMS also finds that gambling participation in the UK is declining. In 2023/24, only 43% of adults reported gambling in the previous year—down from 66% in 2007. While public discourse often implies a growing epidemic, these figures point to a contraction of gambling participation, not its expansion.

This long-term trend undermines claims of gambling “normalisation.”

The implication is not that gambling has ceased to pose a public health risk. Rather, as fewer people gamble, harm may become more concentrated among a smaller, more vulnerable population—often overlapping with those already experiencing mental health challenges.

Framing the evidence
Much of the friction between APMS and GSGB findings can be explained by methodology. The APMS relies on face-to-face household interviews and clinically validated tools, providing a more stable basis for tracking trends over time.

The GSGB, by contrast, uses online self-completed questionnaires, which are cheaper to run but more prone to response bias. That does not invalidate either approach—but it does caution against treating all figures as equally reliable.

Problem Gambling Prevalence: APMS vs GSGB vs HSE (2018)
A comparative graphic that illustrates how survey design can shape outcomes.

Policy must be grounded in evidence
The APMS issues a stern warning: problem gambling is a mental health concern first, and a regulatory issue second. On that basis, it points—indirectly but firmly—to two policy priorities:

Mainstream gambling screening in mental health services
Practitioners in NHS mental health and primary care should routinely assess for gambling harm—particularly among patients presenting with depression, anxiety, trauma, or financial distress.
Focus interventions on high-risk groups
Public health strategies should prioritise the small subset of individuals at highest risk, rather than applying generalised restrictions. This includes tailoring support across healthcare, addiction services, and financial counselling.

The APMS confirms that problem gambling is not a widespread epidemic, but for a narrow group of individuals, it is profoundly damaging. Recognising this comorbidity with mental illness is the first step toward targeted, effective policy. As the availability of rigorous national surveys shrinks, the clarity offered by this one should not be wasted.

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SBOTOP owner handed £3.9m penalty by Isle of Man regulator

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Celton Manx, the parent company of SBOTOP, has been hit with a £3,937,500 penalty from the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) for anti-money laundering (AML) failures.

The GSC found that the company lacked evidence of proper risk assessments, ongoing customer monitoring, enhanced due diligence and sufficient identity verification procedures, as well as falling short when it comes to handling suspicious activity.

The regulator noted that the original penalty was £5,625.000, however, it was discounted by 30% after the company undertook “comprehensive remediation” to address the identified issues.

A GSC statement read: “The Commission is satisfied that the imposition of the Civil Penalty on Celton Manx reflects the serious nature of the identified non-compliance and the issues and risks identified.

“It was further noted that Celton Manx acknowledged the serious shortcomings in its operational and governance arrangements at an early stage of the Commission’s investigation and thereupon had entered into settlement discussions with the Commission and sought to resolve matters expeditiously.”

TGP Europe exits the UK

Celton Manx held an Isle of Man licence from August 2008 until surrendering it on 9 May 2025, a decision that was part of a wider exit of the UK by the Isle of Man-based TGP Europe.

Prior to its departure, TGP Europe operated SBOTOP in the UK via a white label agreement with Celton Manx, as well as operated the UK domain names of several Asia-focused brands, such as DEBET.

However, the platforms associated with TGP Europe ceased their UK operations after the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) uncovered significant AML failures by TGP. The company was handed a £3m penalty by the UKGC following its investigation.

John Pierce, UKGC Head of Enforcement, commented at the time of TGP’s exit: “This case involves a gambling company that was unwilling or unable to meet the regulatory standards we expect from our licensees. It is right that they have now exited the British market.

“Following TGP’s exit, several online gambling operators can no longer lawfully offer gambling facilities to consumers located in Great Britain. These sites, previously operating under TGP’s licence, may not provide adequate protection against criminal activity or gambling-related harm and should not be available to GB consumers with immediate effect.”

Criminal infiltration

Financial crime is an ongoing concern for the Isle of Man given its established financial sector and links to the UK, and it is often the destination for operators seeking regulatory approval.

However, media reports claim that the crown dependency has been subject to attacks by criminals to bypass its controls against financial crime and immigration.

As a result, the Isle of Man’s government has warned that there is “limited appetite” for iGaming businesses with links to East or Southeast Asia.

This sentiment was revealed upon the publication of Digital Isle of Man’s National Risk Appetite Statement (NRAS), a document that seeks to outline the attitude towards new and current iGaming business relationships on the island and identify risk factors.

Although entities are not expressly prohibited from engaging with what are considered higher-risk jurisdictions, they must implement enhanced measures to manage the risks effectively.

In addition, if there is an accumulation of identifiable risk factors, regulators “will not authorise new business, and will review the terms of any existing licences, on the basis of this being outside of the national risk appetite for the Isle of Man”.

According to the report, iGaming contributes 16% of the Isle of Man’s GDP and provides over 1,000 jobs.

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Spelinspektionen adds WinBet to offshore blacklist 

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A WinBet domain has been barred from operating in Sweden due to missing local licence, the Spelinspektionen regulator has revealed.

Supervisory proceedings by the Swedish regulator unveiled that superb.bet, a website owned by Greece-based operator WinBet, had been targeting Swedish customers unlawfully.

This conclusion was based on a number of observations. Firstly, Spelinspektionen noted that the website included Swedish text alongside the option to use Swedish krona for deposits.

Secondly, no visible markers indicated that customers on a Swedish IP address were prevented from opening and operating an account on the website.

Greek licence holder WinBet was contacted for a comment by the Swedish Gambling Authority, but no such was received by the time the ban was publicly announced.

Swedish law dictates that the Gambling Act is relevant to all online gambling providers when their games are considered as targeting Swedish customers, regardless of whether these companies are operating from abroad.

“Circumstances of significance may be that the website contains Swedish text or offers deposits and winnings in Swedish currency,” Spelinspektionen reminded, as is the case with superb.bet.

“The Swedish gambling authority therefore decides to prohibit WinBet NV from providing games in Sweden. The decision shall therefore apply immediately.”

Not a precedent
The full power of the Swedish regulatory rulebook was recently felt by Cyprus licensee ASG 360 Services Ltd as well, when the gambling authority concluded that the operator had been targeting Swedish consumers in a similar manner.

This time however, the ASG-operated domains listed as illegal were around 20, with the most prominent of them being GG.Bet.

In the grand scheme of things, offshore companies registered in the EU pose a significant problem for Spelinspektionen. A recent study by the regulator found that around 13% of Sweden’s online traffic in 2024 was directed to EU-based unlicensed gambling websites.

More significant perhaps is the prominence of black market companies operating far away from EU shores. As part of the same study, Spelinspektionen revealed that 45% of all online traffic towards unlicensed services targeted companies in ‘third countries’. The bulk of that (38%) was directed at Curaçao-based entities.

Power struggle
But besides external threats, the regulator is also currently dealing with internal reviews of its capabilities and how to expand them more efficiently against illegal operators.

Last year, Sweden’s Audit Office said that Spelinspektionen’s monitoring work has been “less effective than desirable” since Sweden’s betting market was re-launched in 2019, prompting the above-mentioned review of the authority’s operational efficiency.

Talks are now in motion to discuss a potential overhaul of the Swedish Gambling Act so that Spelinspektonen’s authority is expanded to new horizons, with the final assessment due to be published no later than 17 September.

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Romania to revise its gambling tax plan once more 

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Romania will consider significant changes to its current gambling tax framework as proposed by the formation of a new coalition government.

The call for reforms follows the appointment of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and the swearing-in of the new Bolojan Cabinet on 23 June 2025, led by newly elected President Nicușor Dan.

The coalition is formed as a “Pro-European Alliance” made of the parties of the PNL (National Liberal Party – Bolojan’s party), PSD (Social Democratic Party) and USR (Save Romania Union) with support from minority groups.

The tri-party coalition has moved quickly to launch a fiscal consolidation plan aimed at boosting public revenues and complying with EU-mandated reforms. The overhaul of gambling taxation falls under the stewardship of Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare, who returned to the post as part of the new cabinet.

At a government briefing, Nazare stressed the urgency of gambling reforms, as measures are designed to curb the black market and “restore fairness and transparency” to a sector that has operated in a “regulatory grey zone for too long.”

“We are increasing the authorisation fees and all other related taxes on gambling in a very significant amount. Upon authorisation, they increase by almost 30%… We want to give a very important signal regarding the taxation of gambling, which we know very well how harmful it is.”

Player tax scale replaces flat model
The most significant shift concerns player winnings, which will no longer be taxed at a flat 3% rate. Instead, Romania will adopt a progressive taxation model based on income brackets:

Up to 10,000 lei (+€2,000): taxed at 10%
10,001–66,750 lei ( up to €13,500): taxed at 1,000 lei + 20% of the amount exceeding 10,000 lei
Above 66,750 lei (+€13,500): taxed at 12,350 lei + 40% on the excess

Previously, the top effective tax for winnings over 66,750 lei was capped at 11,650 lei plus 40% — a structure now replaced by higher thresholds to capture more revenue. For high-stakes casino, slot, poker and lottery play, the government has also introduced a deductible threshold to prevent tax compounding.

Officials from the Ministry of Finance and Romania’s gambling regulator, ONJN, argued the revisions were necessary to curb unlicensed play, which has surged following the 2024 ban on gambling venues in towns with under 15,000 inhabitants.

“Players who have winnings up to 10,000 lei will now have 10% withheld instead of 3%,” Nazare stated: “We want to send a very important signal regarding the taxation of gambling, which we know very well how harmful it is to vulnerable communities when left unchecked.”

Licence fees and authorisation costs climb
Gambling operators will also face elevated licensing and operational fees:

Online games authorisation: increased from 21% to 27%
Retail betting authorisation: increased from 21% to 23%
Slot machine fees: raised from €5,300 to €5,800 per machine
Vice tax on slots: doubled from €500 to €1,000
Lottery proceeds: now subject to a 6.5% tax

Though the government insists the burden has been balanced between operators and consumers, critics warn that over-taxation of player winnings could accelerate black market migration, especially on digital platforms without ONJN licences.

“Players will always follow net returns,” one market analyst said. “If licensed sites become less competitive, the state loses control.”

€1bn fiscal target from gambling
The revised gambling framework is expected to contribute over €1bn annually to Romania’s state budget, forming a key component of the country’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) milestones.

The reform package was published in the Draft Law on Fiscal-Budgetary Measures, now under public consultation via the Ministry of Finance. Alongside gambling, it introduces major tax increases on VAT, health contributions, and excise duties, while phasing out long-standing exemptions across sectors.

The Finance Ministry said the overhaul aims to meet EU deficit rules and unlock additional funding under the PNRR’s Component 8 on Fiscal and Pension System Reforms, which stipulates full implementation by mid‑2026.

USR demands changes…
While supporting fiscal reform, coalition member USR has insisted that the Romanian gambling sector is in urgent need of a comprehensive regulatory overhaul, following high-profile scandals tied to the governance of ONJN, the national gambling regulator.

Romania’s National Auditing Authority recently uncovered gross supervisory failures, including ONJN’s failure to collect €900m in unpaid authorisation fees between 2019 and 2023.

USR, which campaigned on a mandate of regulatory reform, is now spearheading efforts to replace ONJN altogether. The party is advocating for the creation of an entirely new regulatory body with stronger transparency, compliance, and enforcement powers.

As an interim measure, the USR is pushing to implement a monthly gambling spend cap of 10% of individual income, to be monitored by Romania’s Tax Authority (ANAF), with the goal of protecting vulnerable consumers.

“USR’s position is clear—without robust oversight and player protection, we risk losing control of this sector again,” said a party representative. Prior to the coalition’s formation, USR also secured an agreement to modernise the national self-exclusion system with tougher entry protocols, broader operator responsibilities, and real-time monitoring tools.

Draft Bill to be quickly cemented
The gambling tax reforms are part of the Draft Law on Fiscal-Budgetary Measures which remains in draft form.

Anastasiya Yautodzyeva: 4H Agency
“The proposed bill has not yet entered into force,” said Stasya Yautodzyeva, policy analyst at 4H Agency. “Comments and industry feedback can still be submitted until 13 July, with final reviews expected by 3 August 2025.”

Whilst modest amendments remain possible, Yautodzyeva warned that core tax increases are unlikely to be rolled back. If passed, the legislation will mark Romania’s sixth major overhaul of gambling taxation since 2018, reflecting a pattern of near-annual fiscal tinkering in pursuit of tighter control with no guaranteed results on revenues.

“There is a slim chance that a strong and coordinated industry response may influence certain aspects of the bill, potentially softening some of its harsher measures,” she noted. “However, experience across multiple jurisdictions shows that restrictive fiscal and regulatory changes—especially when not paired with incentives or consumer protections—often push both operators and players towards offshore markets.”

“Sustainable regulation must strike a balance between enforcement and accessibility; otherwise, Romania’s well-intentioned reforms may unintentionally undermine the very goals they seek to achieve.”

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Lithuania applies new laws of 2028 gambling regime

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Lithuania continues its overhaul of gambling legislation, applying reforms and restrictions that will establish a new gambling regime by 2028.

As approved by the Seimas (Parliament) in November 2024, Lithuania will begin another phase of its ‘gradual implementation’ to overhaul gambling laws from 1 July onwards.

Operators will face sweeping curbs on advertising activities as the promotion of brands will be limited to licensed premises and official websites, with all broader marketing channels including digital, broadcast and event sponsorships brought under strict control.

Television and media promotions are capped at two or three short 15-second slots per hour, with advertising coverage dependent on the time of day (afternoon or evening). Online -pop-up adverts and direct links to betting platforms are explicitly banned.

The controls are viewed as a precursor to a full advertising blackout that is set to be applied from 1 January 2028, when Lithuania will enforce one of the EU’s most stringent bans on gambling advertising.

Alongside marketing restrictions, from 1 July the legal gambling age will rise from 18 to 21 from July 2025, with the exception of national lottery draws. Licensed operators will also be required to strengthen player protection measures, including behavioural monitoring systems, deposit limits, and mandatory intervention training for frontline staff.

In January, the Seimas approved a separate set of anti-money laundering (AML) provisions targeting financial flows to illegal gambling sites. Under the new framework, all banks licensed by the Bank of Lithuania whether domestic or foreign must monitor gambling-related transactions and report suspicious activity to the national regulator, the Gambling Control Authority (LPT).

Critically, the rules require banks to block payments to blacklisted gambling sites within 24 hours of receiving a directive from the LPT. Failure to comply can lead to fines of up to €6,000, with repeat breaches attracting the highest penalties.

To support enforcement, the LPT has been granted extended supervisory powers, including the right to impose fines of up to €700,000 for serious regulatory violations. In anticipation of advertising revenue losses across the media sector, the government has established a €4m transition fund to support affected publishers and broadcasters.

Operators were formally warned to prepare for sweeping compliance adjustments when the government submitted its legislative reform package to the European Council for review in May 2025.

Meanwhile, uncertainty lingers around the sector’s fiscal outlook. The Minister of Finance has yet to confirm whether Lithuania will proceed with plans to introduce a 22% tax on gambling income from slot machines and online games — a move that could significantly reshape the economics of the country’s digital gambling market.

The Seimas has underscored its determination to drive out illegal operators, protect consumers, and reshape the country’s gambling industry through a robust regulatory framework aligned with other EU nations.

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GamCare to end gambling harm prevention programme for Under-18s

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GamCare will no longer operate its gambling harm prevention and education programme for children and under-18s in Britain.

The treatment support charity has announced the “difficult decision” to end its specialist Young People’s Programme, which will be shut down by the end of September 2025. The decision was taken due to a lack of sustainable funding.

The charity informed the media that:
“From October 2025, GamCare will no longer provide education, prevention or outreach programmes aimed at reducing gambling harm experienced by children and young people, nor will it offer specific treatment and support services for under-18s.”

GamCare has operated its Young People’s Programme since 2020, helping to support and educate over 250,000 children, young people, and stakeholders within local communities.

The closure of the programme will not impact GamCare’s core treatment services, which continue to provide frontline support and resources for individuals experiencing gambling addiction or those harmed by someone else’s gambling.

The National Gambling Helpline (Freephone 0808 8020 133) will continue to offer dedicated support for children and under-18s, with trained advisors providing specialist assistance.

Regarding wider policy development on gambling protections for under-18s in the UK, GamCare confirmed it will maintain its Youth Advisory Board, “to ensure young people’s voices continue to inform our work.”

GamCare’s core focus will remain the provision of high-quality, accessible support to the thousands of people who use its services each year—both those struggling with gambling directly and those affected by someone else’s gambling.

While GamCare’s direct youth education and outreach services will cease, dedicated education and early-intervention support for children and young people will continue to be available through the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM).

YGAM delivers evidence-based programmes to help prevent gaming and gambling harms among those aged 7 to 24, alongside training for teachers, youth workers, and parents. Its work is central to the UK’s national Gambling Education Framework and continues to play a vital role in safeguarding younger audiences from gambling-related risks.

New Leadership and Strategic Direction

2025 also sees GamCare begin a new chapter under the leadership of Victoria Corbishley, former UK Director at the British Red Cross. Corbishley takes on the role of CEO at a pivotal moment for all organisations involved in the prevention and treatment of gambling harms.

Her appointment coincides with the implementation of a new statutory RET (Research, Education and Treatment) Levy, expected to be applied from 1 April 2025.

The new system will see the NHS, alongside the newly established Prevention Commissioner and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), serve as the primary stewards of the Levy’s guaranteed £100 million in annual funding for programmes across British communities.

Irrespective of these structural changes, GamCare will continue to uphold its mandate to expand the accessibility of treatment services for those seeking help. Furthermore, the charity remains committed to its collaborative efforts to raise awareness of gambling harms across communities and businesses, recognising them as both a social disorder and a mental health issue.

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EGBA ensures seals are tight ahead of new EU AML plunge

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The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is looking at introducing a new list of risk assessment documents for its members.

Feedback has been collected from the association members which completed the second annual reporting process on their implementation of EGBA’s updated AML guidelines.

These guidelines were first introduced back in March 2023, with the goal of preparing EGBA’s pan-European partnership network for future shifts in EU AML policy.

More specifically, last year saw the European Council approving a new legislation for the creation of the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), which will be tasked with the supervision of financial risk compliance across EU states from 2026 onwards.

Under AMLA, EU operators will see the introduction of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) – a new reporting format that will bring a standardised compliance basis for all online gambling providers in Europe.

EGBA’s guidelines were created so that operators can become familiarised with the upcoming changes, and prepare for increased scrutiny that will cover all corners of the industry – from customer and business risk assessments, to suspicious transaction reporting, to record keeping.

Now that the mock reporting process has been completed for the second year in a row, EGBA will move to analyse the results and potentially introduce a minimum list of required AML-related documents, alongside updated guidance on risk assessments, payments, outsourcing, and sports integrity – all in accordance to the new EU policy coming in 2026.

The Union has faced previous criticism about lacking a cross-country unified strategy when tackling the black market. This new legislation might prove to be the needed chess piece for a checkmate.

Dr. Ekaterina Hartmann/Credit: EGBA
Dr. Ekaterina Hartmann, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at EGBA, commented: “We’re pleased to have completed the second annual reporting process and want to thank our members for their dedication to this collaborative initiative.

“Together, we’re aiming to raise the bar for AML compliance standards across our members and, by example, influence other operators across the industry to do the same.

“We encourage operators who aren’t members of EGBA to join this initiative and help strengthen the sector’s contribution to the fight against financial crime.”

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Dutch regulator buoyant on deposit limit impacts, but trade bodies warn of a dangerous future

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Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Dutch gambling regulator, has revealed the positive effects of its recently introduced player protection measures, but trade bodies have warned that the country’s black market is growing.

In the second half of 2024, the KSA mandated that players must contact an operator if they want to increase their deposit limits to more than €350 per month or €150 for young adults (18-24).

In addition, providers must now check whether a player can afford deposits of over €300 (young adults) or €700 (aged 24 and over).

The KSA claimed that just 1% of players lost more than €1,000 during the reporting period, falling from 4% before the rule changes.

The percentage of players depositing more than the deposit limits has dropped from 9.7% to 2.2% for adults, and from 12% to 1.9% for young adults. Also, the average player loss per account decreased by 31% to an average of €80 per month, falling from an average of €116 in the eight months before the rule changes.

The KSA argued that this shows the rules had reduced instances of excessive gambling at legal providers.

During this time, gross gaming result (total deposits minus prizes paid) fell by 8% compared to the previous year.

Channelisation and illegal market

The data also suggested that 93% of players only play with legal providers. However, the channelisation rate in the Netherlands, the percentage of gambling spend at legal operators, is widely reported to be just 50%.

This indicates that a large proportion of high-spending players in the Netherlands are customers of illegal operators, meaning the regulated market is losing out on significant revenue from these players.

Search volume for the top 100 illegal websites also increased following the rules changes, which the KSA conceded could indicate growth in the illegal market.

Fears over the lure of the black market have also been echoed by VNLOK, a trade body for the Dutch gambling industry.

VNLOK, which has recently announced a merger with the NOGA, warned that the black market remains too easily accessible, especially by vulnerable players who are not afforded the same protections as they would if they were playing on the regulated market.

Björn Fuchs, Chair of VNLOK, said: “We must not close our eyes to the other half: the illegal market. It is precisely the players who bet the most money and vulnerable groups, such as minors and young adults, that seem to continue to find their way to the illegal offer. That is exactly the group that is most at risk.”

In response to the results, VNLOK urged the KSA to consider the impact of new regulations, warning that an excess of new rules can have the undesirable effect of driving players to the black market.

It stated: “VNLOK calls for strict action against illegal providers and for a balanced approach to regulation: effective where necessary, but without unnecessarily hindering the player and the legal offer. All findings from the latest impact measurement must be taken into account in the development of new rules.”

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Questions raised as new child gambling cases emerge in Victoria 

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Three Australian hotels have been found guilty by Victoria’s gambling authority of allowing minors to gamble on their premises.

An investigation into events spanning across four dates in 2024, and involving three minors across three venues, has resulted in a AU$38,000 (£18.2k) fine issued by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) handed over to the Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH), which manages the venues.

Infringements related to the Cramers Hotel, Excelsior Hotel, and Mountain View Hotel, all located in the state of Victoria, and all publicly named and reprimanded by the VGCCC and its CEO, Suzy Neilan.

The ALH was penalised without conviction in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, pleading guilty to six charges after self-reporting the breaches to the VGCCC, which Neilan welcomed.

“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.”

Too late for comfort
Each case showed significant supervision failures by floor staff, with the most serious one involving a child accompanied by two adults entering the poker machine area of the Excelsior Hotel in April 2024 and engaging with the machine being used by one of the adults.

In the Cramers Hotel, a 17-year-old visited the poker machine area in January without being asked to show their ID throughout multiple interactions with staff members, the VGCCC said. This occurred multiple times until employees intervened on 25 January.

The third case involved a 14-year-old entering the poker machine room of the Mountain View Hotel and successfully managing to gamble before staff realised what’s happening.

All three venues have been given two charges each by the VGCCC, one for allowing a minor to enter a gaming machine area and one for allowing a minor to gamble.

“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,” Neilan added.

Troublemaker Victoria
Neilan took on the role of VGCCC’s CEO in March of this year. Since then, she’s been focusing her efforts to fix what has been a troubled history for the state of Victoria in terms of customer care due diligence.

In 2024, the VGCCC gave a record AU$4.7m (£2.2m) fine to Tabcorp, the operator of Victoria’s wagering licence for retail and leisure venues, over lack of adequate staff training that led to failures to protect at-risk customers.

Tabcorp also faced a total of 54 charges by the VGCCC in 2023 for allegedly allowing minors to gamble and lacking reasonable supervision of on-site electronic betting terminals.

Naturally, the state has become a hotbed for problem gambling policies, going as far as adopting the strictest gambling harm rules in Australia back in 2023, specifically aimed at making gaming machines safer through measures like reducing the player spend cap and mandatory game spin rates.

The developments in Victoria come amid a national conversation about gambling harm in Australia, something policymakers have sought to address via the recommendations of the Murphy Report, published by a late MP in 2023.

Gambling reforms were shelved earlier this year ahead of the general election, but with the PM Anthony Albanese now firmly in the driving seat after his election win it could be back on the agenda.

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