Australia’s biggest publican and largest operator of poker machines has been charged with dozens of counts of operating gaming machines not equipped with Victoria’s mandatory pre-commitment technology YourPlay.
Australian Leisure & Hospitality (ALH) is facing 62 charges by the Victorian regulator over failures to minimise gambling harm, for allegedly operating the EGMs without YourPlay installed.
Investigating an anonymous tip in December 2021, inspectors from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) mobilised to visit multiple ALH venues to verify what it considered to be significant breaches. Inspectors visited pubs in Hallam, Sandringham, Narre Warren, Mulgrave, Laverton and Cheltenham.
The group is alleged to have operated 220 machines for up to five weeks without the YourPlay functionality. Following the inspections, the company switched off all 220 non-compliant machines, across 62 of its 77 venues in Victoria.
YouPlay constitutes a personal gaming card that gives players the ability to track their personal activity over time. It is the state’s system to give people the ability to set time and spending limits on gambling.
The VGCCC reports both ALH and an executive officer of the company will face charges under the Gambling Regulation Act (2003) for failing to ensure the mandatory player equipment was installed.
“We have decided to prosecute ALH as the alleged breaches constituted serious and significant non-compliance across 80 per cent of all ALH’s Victorian venues,” said VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM.
The 62 charges could attract a maximum fine of around $1.35 million, and Kimmitt suggests this is a warning call for the state’s gaming operators.
“Anyone who holds a gambling licence in Victoria is on notice that they must, at a minimum, comply with their legal obligations to protect patrons from gambling harm.
“Having YourPlay installed and available on electronic gaming machines is a mandatory requirement to support safer gambling.”
Operators can get more information on YourPlay requirements HERE.