Australia
Compliance blitz to ensure venues meet new gaming harm minimisation measures
Liquor & Gaming NSW has kicked off a compliance blitz on new gaming harm minimisation measures, ahead of additional training requirements coming into force for senior staff of licensed venues.
Inspectors visited 528 hotels and clubs across NSW in July and August to ensure venues were complying with new requirements relating to Responsible Gaming Officers (RGOs), gambling incident registers, ATM signage and Gaming Plans of Management (GPOM).
The operation comes amid new requirements for senior staff to undertake training to ensure venue leaders can support a culture of gaming harm minimisation.
The new requirements are part of the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver evidence-based reform that helps prevent gambling harm and money laundering, and supports local communities and jobs.
Venues have shown a readiness to adopt the additional harm minimisation requirements, with inspections since 1 July finding 93 per cent of venues are complying with new measures required since that date. The majority of breaches found related to new ATM signage requirements.
Inspectors are continuing their work across the state to ensure industry is aware of its obligations and are complying with the new requirements as they come into effect.
Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations Jane Lin said the new requirements were an important next step in minimising gambling harm.
“Inspectors re focusing on Gaming Plans of Management to ensure they have the required content included, as well as testing that the policies and procedures in the plan are being adhered to.
“It’s important that venues not only have a plan prepared, but ensure their staff are aware of the contents and are checking to make sure it is being complied with.”
The new requirements are part of the government’s commitment to deliver an evidence-based reform that reduces gambling harm, stops money laundering, and supports local communities and jobs.
Under the new rules, club secretaries, club directors, hotel licensees, hotel managers and staff who are responsible for the management of gaming operations will all be required to undertake training on the practical skills to identify and proactively intervene when patrons are showing signs of gambling harm.
As part of a suite of gambling reforms, licensed venues have recently been required to:
-maintain and conduct monthly reviews of a Gambling incident register from 1 July 2024, that records instances of potential or actual gambling harm identified in the venue
-introduce RGOs into hotels and clubs with more than 20 gaming machine entitlements from 1 July 2024
-create and maintain a Gaming Plan of Management from 1 September 2024, and update at least annually.
From 1 January 2025, ATMs must be located outside of a five-metre radius of any entrance or exit of a gaming area in a hotel or club.
Venues that cannot comply with this requirement can seek an exemption from L&GNSW in some circumstances.
The post Compliance blitz to ensure venues meet new gaming harm minimisation measures appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The NSW Government has launched a new GambleAware campaign, Safer Gambling, Stronger Communities, aimed at preventing and reducing gambling harm in Aboriginal communities across the state.
Using culturally meaningful animations created by young filmmakers at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, the campaign encourages Aboriginal people to reflect on their gambling and make safer choices.
Office of Responsible Gambling (ORG) Director Alison Parkinson said the campaign, which will run until June across traditional media and digital platforms, directs viewers to the GambleAware website where they can access further information and support services.
“We know that gambling harm disproportionately affects Aboriginal communities, which is why this campaign is so important,” Ms Parkinson said.
“It speaks directly to First Nations people in a way that is culturally relevant and meaningful.”
The initiative is backed by the Hospitality and Racing Group’s new Aboriginal Stakeholder Strategy which partners with Aboriginal communities to deliver culturally responsive programmes and policies.
Ms Parkinson said it is vital Aboriginal communities have access to the right support, with important messages delivered directly to them.
“By empowering First Nations communities with knowledge and resources, we can help break the cycle of gambling harm and advance closing the gap towards a safer, healthier future for generations to come,” Ms Parkinson said.
ORG has allocated $100,000 from the Responsible Gambling Fund to support the initiative.
The post NSW Government Launches New Gambling Awareness Campaign appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Waterhouse VC, an investment fund specialising in the technology layer of the global gambling industry, has secured an option in Maincard, a “Shopify of Online Betting” platform targeting the launch of fully customisable licensed online betting sites in under 30 minutes.
Maincard targets the $1 trillion iGaming market by replacing months of development work, cumbersome licensing and complex integrations with a subscription-style workflow. Crypto-native founders, influencers and digital communities can spin up branded betting sites, monetise their audiences and retain full upside ownership from day one.
“iGaming still suffers from high startup costs and significant technical and regulatory friction,” said Tom Waterhouse, Chief Investment Officer of Waterhouse VC. “We’re seeing strong potential in platforms that can streamline development, similar to how Shopify revolutionised e-commerce. The sector is ripe for innovation that allows new entrants to focus on player acquisition and retention rather than backend development.”
“Waterhouse VC’s deep domain knowledge and network will accelerate our go-to-market,” said Valerii Makovetskii, Founder and CEO of Maincard. “We’ve developed strong technical foundations with our crypto-friendly payments gateway already powering third-party casinos. The next step is to make launching a betting site as easy as launching an online storefront.”
The investment aligns with Waterhouse VC’s approach of identifying promising B2B technology companies serving the wagering industry and negotiating options to acquire stakes in these businesses.
Maincard platform vision:
- Launch in <30 minutes — drag-and-drop, no code required
- End-to-end compliance — licensing, KYC/AML, fraud, payments, customer support and marketing handled by Maincard
- 15,000+ casino games & 1,000+ sportsbook markets out of the box
Maincard is currently raising USD $3M to scale its sales team and launch multiple brands from the waiting list by the end of Q3 2025.
The post WATERHOUSE VC SECURES OPTION IN MAINCARD, THE “SHOPIFY OF ONLINE BETTING” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Crown Resorts has announced that The Hon. Martin Pakula will join the Board of Crown Melbourne, effective May 1, 2025, and will succeed Mr. Ian Silk, as Chair, from July 1, 2025.
As Chair, Mr. Silk has successfully led Crown Melbourne through a period of unprecedented remediation and transformation during the past two and a half years. Mr. Silk’s strong leadership through the organisation’s operational and cultural transformation, saw Crown Melbourne regain its licence from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission. To ensure a seamless transition Mr Silk will remain in his role until 1 July 2025.
As incoming Chair, Mr. Pakula brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously served as Attorney-General, and Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events in the Victorian government. He currently serves as Chair of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.
Crown Resorts CEO, Mr. David Tsai, said: “Martin’s appointment comes at an exciting time as Crown continues to focus on innovation and growth. I look forward to Crown benefiting from Martin’s extensive industry and leadership experience. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ian for his exceptional leadership and the pivotal role he played in overseeing Crown Melbourne’s extensive transformation.”
Mr. Silk said: “It has been an honour to serve as Chair. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved over the past two and a half years, and I want to thank everyone at Crown Melbourne for their dedication and hard work. I’m confident Crown Melbourne will continue to thrive with Martin’s leadership.”
Mr. Pakula said: “I am delighted to accept the role of Chair at Crown Melbourne and to play a role in its exciting future. Crown is an iconic business that is a critical part of Victoria’s economy, tourism and entertainment industry.”
The post Martin Pakula Named Chair of Crown Melbourne appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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