Alarming VGCCC investigation finds 80% of Victorian ALH venues

non-compliant with harm minimisation legal requirements

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has today

announced Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) has been found to be

non-compliant at 80% of its 77 Victorian venues that offer gambling. ALH has not

been adhering to requirements aimed to reduce gambling harm.

Rev. Tim Costello said the findings are appalling and the maximum fine available, a

dismal $1.35 million, is a drop in the ocean for ALH who operate over 12,000 poker

machines across the country.

‘Less than 0.05% of Endeavour’s (who own ALH) annual Hotel profits will be impacted by this fine. We need to empower the regulator to utilise the same fines that are available to casinos and ensure meaningful penalties for such disgraceful conduct’ Rev. Costello Said.

‘YourPlay (the pre-commitment program) is the only tool available to people to set limits on their losses on poker machines, and to remove this option from some of Victoria’s highest loss venues is a disgrace. Yet again, this cowboy approach to gambling harm from some licensees reinforces the need for a mandatory system on all poker machines, the same as that being introduced to Crown Casino.’

YourPlay, the voluntary pre-commitment system has come under fire in recent years,

following a report commissioned by the Victorian Department of Justice found it had not

been a success and usage in pubs and clubs was very low.

We are calling on both major parties to commit to taking meaningful and tangible steps,

including increasing fines available to pubs and clubs, and committing to a cashless,

mandatory pre-commitment system on all of Victoria’s poker machines in the lead up to

the Victorian State election on the 26th of November.

The Alliance is a national advocacy organisation which works to prevent and minimise

the harm from gambling. Our aim is to remove the shame that surrounds gambling,

have the problem treated as a public health issue, and achieve the legislative changes

needed to protect our communities. We bring together well over 60 organisations who

share the objectives of preventing harm from gambling.

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