Victoria Introduces the Gambling and Liquor Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Monday 21 March 2022 @ 3.27 p.m. | Legal Research
On 8 March 2022, the Gambling and Liquor Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (Vic) (“the Bill”) was introduced to the Legislative Assembly by Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne ('the Minister').
The Bill seeks to deliver on the government’s objective to reduce gambling-related harm and improve regulation of the industry in Victoria. If passed, the Bill will amend the Casino Control Act 1991 (Vic), the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic) and the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 (Vic).
The Minister said in her second reading speech that the Bill:
“builds on the work of the government by introducing further harm minimization measures and improving the regulatory framework for gambling in Victoria.”
The Bill is yet to pass the lower house.
Proposed Amendments to the Casino Control Act 1991 (Vic)
The Bill contains proposed amendments to the Casino Control Act 1991 (Vic), which would allow casino operators to pay out gambling machine winnings to players by electronic funds transfer. These proposed changes ensure that the legislation is consistent with provisions of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic).
The amendments would also require casino operators to wait a 24 hour period before transferring funds that amounts to more than $2000. The Bill’s Explanatory Memorandum comments that this is requirement is to be introduced in order to:
“minimise gambling-related harm by preventing players from being able to immediately use large wins to continue gambling”.
Proposed Amendments to the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic)
The Bill also seeks to remove the current fixed term of 12 years for wagering and betting licences under the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic). Instead, the Bill proposes that the term be specified in the licence. The Minister commented in her second reading speech that this change would:
“enable the government to determine the most appropriate licence term at a point in time, having regard to best available evidence and an understanding of the value to the State”.
If passed, the Bill's amendments would also require venue operators to either:
- allocate unpaid jackpot funds to other linked jackpot arrangements operating in the same approved venue; or
- pay any unpaid jackpot funds into the Responsible Gambling Fund.
The Bill also proposes the repeal of Chapter 7 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic). This Chapter is in regards to interactive gaming. The Bill’s Explanatory Memorandum explains that the repeal seeks to:
“avoid uncertainty and inconsistency with the Commonwealth regulation of interactive gaming through the Interactive Gambling Act 2011 (Cth)”.
Proposed Amendments to the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 (Vic)
The Bill also proposes to expand on the types of liquor orders regulated under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 (Vic). The proposed provisions would extend the regulatory framework to not only online orders, but orders made by telephone, mail order, facsimilie and other forms of electronic communication.
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Sources:
Gambling and Liquor Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 (Vic) and additional explanatory materials available from TimeBase’s LawOne Service
