Australian Gambling Archives - Page 4 of 9

ACT government to scrap 363 pokie authorizations by 2024

February 26, 2022 by Admin

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government has intensified its efforts to reach its 2024 target for 3500 pokie authorizations across all of the region’s clubs by seeking targeted policies. This number was agreed upon in line with the Labor-Greens governing and parliamentary agreement, which also addresses crucial matters such as housing and climate.

Looming Deadline

Shane Rattenbury, ACT’s gaming minister, explained that the territory intends to reduce its number of pokies to 3500, down from its current number of 3683.

Rattenbury added that officials have to account for the effect that numerous COVID-19 lockdowns have had on the industry while formulating appropriate policies to reduce the prevalence of problem gambling. The pandemic-precipitated restrictions and subsequent economic downturn have taken their toll on clubs’ revenue, another factor that the government will have to consider when drafting new transition policies. The minister also shared that he is open to any solutions geared at eradicating pokies from targeted territory clubs.

Diversification Funding Destined for Clubs

Rattenbury went on to state that with future funding allocated to the government’s 2019 –initiated Diversification and Sustainability Support Fund, clubs in Canberra would be empowered to explore alternate and more sustainable revenue streams that do not involve gambling. The fund is powered by a monthly $20 contribution for the first 99 poker machine licenses at each club in the area.

There are two available funding tiers that clubs can opt into. There is a $25,000 ‘nonstop’ option and a $250,000 option provided in grants. The second tier is available at least once a year for community clubs, with six clubs having already received almost $1 million in overall second-tier funding.

The funding will be used to install solar energy panels, add air-conditioning, construct childcare centres, and refurbish ageing amenities at the six clubs that were approved for the initiative in July 2021. The clubs in question are the Harmonie German Club, Spanish Australian Club, Canberra Highland, Burns Club, Belconnen Soccer Club, Belconnen Magpies Sports Club, and Gungahlin Lakes Golf and Community Club.

Sustainable Future

The Belconnen Magpies Club in Kippax shut down its gaming site in 2017, following an almost 50-year history in operation. The premises have now been converted into a site capable of hosting a medical centre, with assistance from second-tier funding. Paul Netting, the club’s general manager, said excess money from the grant was put into installing air-conditioning and a lift for wheelchair access at the Ochre Medical Centre in Kippax.

For its part, The Spanish Australian Club intends to use its allocated funds to upgrade its kitchens to be able to cater for future events at the club, potentially increasing revenues and eliminating the need to host pokies.

New ACMA study reveals amplified Australian online gambling activity during COVID

February 24, 2022 by Admin

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released the latest results of an ongoing study into gambling trends in Australia. The data revealed an increase that the number of Australians engaging with online gambling for the six months through to June 2021.

Crunching Numbers

The study detailed that 11% of Australians claimed to have participated in online gambling at some point over the period, a higher figure than the 8% recorded in 2020.

The ACMA also underlined the notable growth in online sports betting since its 2020 survey. The authority concluded that this was related to the return of sporting events, following the government-mandated lockdowns of the same year.

The report elaborated that online sports and race betting were “marginally more popular” than other forms of online gaming such as poker and table games, neither of which enjoy the same legal status as the former two.

Lotteries retained their top spot as the country’s most prevalent form of online gambling. A significant 21% of adult respondents admitted to playing the lottery over the defined period. The research additionally revealed that a minor segment of the country’s online gamblers uses illegal online wagering services, with one in 20 online gamblers surveyed admitting to using offshore betting platforms.

The report continued to state that 25% of respondents who had participated in online sports gambling over the six months, including wagering on racing, eSports and fantasy sports, had made online in-play bets.

Trend-Tracking

The report states that it “examines the prevalence and nature of online gambling in Australia, and how this has changed in recent years. The research provides a snapshot of online wagering in Australia at this time and how this has changed from pre-COVID years.”

The organisation added that it continues to implement the improved illegal offshore gambling rules that were presented in 2017 under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. These restrictions forbid online gambling services like casinos from being offered or marketed to Australians.

In the years since this change, the ACMA has expedited the blocking of 354 illegal gambling websites and 21 affiliate marketing sites.

Queen’s Wharf Brisbane takes shape

February 19, 2022 by Admin

The designs for The Star Entertainment Group’s new project have been revealed. The $3.6 billion, 71-storey Queen’s Wharf development will feature more than 800 apartments and will tower at over 250 metres.

Destination Brisbane Consortium, which is a joint venture spearheaded by The Star Entertainment Group, Chow Tai Enterprises, and Far East Consortium, awarded the construction of the fifth skyrise in the resort development to leading developer Multiplex in April 2019.

Chris Hinds, the Sales Director of YPM Group, an Australian-based project marketing company, revealed that the apartments would be up for sale in two months.

“We are so excited to announce Queen’s Wharf Tower, the tallest tower in the Queens Wharf Precinct is set to be released in April 2022. Market interest is strong, and we have started connecting with potential buyers who have been registered after missing out on the first time, Queen’s Wharf Residences,” he said.

“Queen’s Wharf Residences is the fastest-selling residential project in Queensland after attracting an unprecedented level of local buyer interest and selling 75 per cent of the 667 apartments within two months,” Hinds concluded.

Exciting Reveals

It has taken seven years for the project to reach this point. The process began when the Echo Entertainment Group (now Star Entertainment) beat Crown Resorts and Greenland Holdings Group to the punch.

The project’s retail component will be headed up by DFS, a luxury brand retailer that intends to construct a three-level Galleria Emporium within Brisbane’s 40,000 square metre shopping precinct.

Once the project is completed, Queensland residents will have access to a new casino, four hotels, and over 50 new bars and eateries, accompanied by more than 2000 residential apartments.

Simon Crooks, Destination Brisbane Consortium’s Project Director, advised that Queen’s Wharf Brisbane will be an impressive addition to the city skyline and that its early 2023 opening is sure to revitalise Brisbane’s CBD.

“With the main integrated resort reaching level 20 in parts, construction has spilled into the public space areas and heritage buildings, many of which will become the locals’ favourite new dining spots. The nine heritage buildings, dated back to the 1800s, are being carefully restored and transformed into new shopping outlets, restaurants and bars as well as spaces for events, entertainment and performance, Crooks commented.

“Further to that, sections of the SkyDeck will be installed mid-year as we start to form Brisbane’s newest and hottest venue in town come 2023,” he added.

Whistle-blowers drag Star’s high-roller practices into the light

February 15, 2022 by Admin

Star Entertainment is facing unwelcomed scrutiny after details emerged of how the company allegedly coached local high rollers to make false claims of living outside of New South Wales, in a scheme that reportedly decreased the amount of gaming tax that its casino had to pay to the state.

Two Star Sydney casino employees have come forward, detailing their direct involvement in the scheme that they say involved the use of doctored documentation to help high-value local punters claim that they live overseas or interstate, despite them being NSW residents.

The players were reportedly advised that if they met the application requirements to be identified as non-NSW players, they would be entered into lucrative rebate programs. These requirements included a current interstate driver’s licence or recent passport visa stamp.

As a result of this, The Star Sydney is alleged to have avoided paying millions of dollars in gaming revenue to the NSW government.

The deal that the operator has with the NSW government allocates The Star Sydney a discounted tax rate of close to 10% on generated revenue from non-local VIP gamblers, who are included in the aforementioned rebate programs. On the other hand, the revenue collected from local players is taxed at nearly double the reduced rate.

More Testimony

Two additional confidential sources, who are not permitted to speak publicly, made the same allegations to the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and the Bell inquiry.

The Bell inquiry is an inquest in the style of a royal commission that was launched to look into the operations of The Star and is headed up by the prominent barrister, Adam Bell, SC.

The inquiry made the recent announcement that it would be conducting public hearings into The Star, following reports of unacceptable governance and practices that may involve money laundering, associations with organised crime, and wide-ranging fraud and interference from foreign entities at its Australian casinos.

A particular tale related by the sources told of a high roller who was coaxed into changing their residential status. This individual was apparently a “whale” gambler who had the Australian Taxation Office after him over unpaid taxes owed the federal government that reportedly runs into tens of millions of dollars.

One of the staff members involved in encouraging gamblers to alter their addresses advised that selected employees could gain a larger bonus by being a part of the scheme. The Bell inquiry will attempt to uncover precisely who at The Star was aware of this practice and to what extent anyone was involved when the public hearings begin in March 2022.

Playing Defence

The Star responded to a list of detailed questions regarding the supposed scheme with a brief statement that read,

“The Star runs a rebate program where the eligibility of domestic and international players is determined by criteria known to the regulator.”

The Bell inquiry is also likely to tackle accusations that the casino operator gave Chinese high rollers free reign to use special debit and credit cards from their country to withdraw hundreds of millions of dollars from The Star’s hotel properties, a practice that deceptively framed gambling activity as hotel expenses.

If these claims are verified by anti-money laundering agency, Austrac, The Star may be in trouble for violating anti-money laundering legislation.

Crown Resorts’ Melbourne casino was previously found to have committed similar transgressions involving Chinese credit cards, a revelation that nearly cost the operator its casino licence.

The Star’s troubles began to compound in October 2021, when proof that, between 2014 and 2021, the company had established relationships with high-roller gamblers who have alleged associations with criminal organisations emerged.

Evidence of these practices came from numerous casino and law enforcement sources who had intimate knowledge of the company’s actions.

Victoria’s proposed pre-commitment limits on Crown pokies stopped in their tracks

January 29, 2022 by Admin

A proposal by Victoria’s government to compel players at Crown Melbourne to adhere to maximum loss and time limits before they begin gambling has all but been abandoned.

These suggested measures originated from the Victorian royal commission into Crown, which was run by Ray Finkelstein, QC who recommended stringent new rules to tackle problem gambling. These included the aforementioned mandatory pre-commitment limits on how much and how long players intended to spend on the casino’s over 2500 pokies.

At the time of the commission’s findings, the Victorian government had committed to supporting Finkelstein’s 33 recommendations “in principle”.

Heavy Resistance

It appears, however, that the pre-commitment recommendation was doomed to failure as it met significant opposition from the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The department has pointed out that a similar mandatory system implemented in 2012 in a Canadian province was abandoned after only two years.

The Canadian initiative was roundly criticised for having little to no impact on problem gambling and was rife with loopholes such as the pre-commitment cards that could be used by different players and situations where players obtained numerous cards.

On the Warpath

Commissioner Finkelstein’s scathing report tore into Crown’s management of problem gambling, describing his findings as “perhaps the most damning discovery by the commission”.

“Crown Melbourne had for years held itself out as having a world’s best approach to problem gambling,” the report continued.

The commission’s evaluation of YourPlay, a government-managed voluntary pre-commitment system, was that it had “not been successful”, as it had achieved a minimal uptake rate and there were no mechanisms to stop individuals from playing once they had reached their limits.

Finkelstein recommended that YourPlay should be scrapped in favour of a “full, mandatory, binding, pre-commitment system for Australian residents gambling on electronic gaming machines at the Melbourne casino”.

He advised that players should have the ability to implement weekly or monthly limits on their losses and playing time. Gamblers would additionally be barred from playing pokies for over 12 hours over any 24 hours.

2021 saw the government including nine of Commissioner Finkelstein’s recommendations in approved legislation. These included appointing the former public sector corruption watchdog, Stephen O’Bryan, as a special manager charged with monitoring Crown for two years, after which he will determine whether the venue’s licence should be revoked.

The government has committed to a second set of legislation to be introduced in 2022 to integrate the outstanding 24 recommendations, which would include a large-scale initiative to curb problem gambling at the casino. Further details regarding the implementation of the new system are not available at this time.

Contentious Past

The spokesperson for the Gaming Minister, Melissa Horne, advised that the government acknowledges the “breadth and complexity” of the recommendations that have yet to be implemented. Horne explained that the second allotment of legislation would cover the last of the recommendations.

“We support these recommendations in principle, and further detailed analysis and consultation will be undertaken,” she added.

Aristocrat’s offer stands alone as JKO withdraws from Playtech bidding war

January 26, 2022 by Admin

Aristocrat has revealed that its regulatory approvals process is making headway with the Australian gaming manufacturer’s offer remaining as the only one on the table for the acquisition of Playtech, following the withdrawal of rival bidder, JKO Play.

With the JKO Play consortium backing away from negotiations, Aristocrat is taking the opportunity to revise its current offer to its previous, lower bid.

In an official release, the operator restated its recommended cash acquisition offer to Playtech’s shareholders, stating that JKO’s withdrawal leaves it as the last remaining bidder and that its offer affords “full and fair value” with “attractive cash certainty”.

“The Playtech board recommended acquisition remains the only firm offer available to Playtech shareholders, despite the substantial amount of time provided to potential bidders to make alternative proposals.”

“Aristocrat further confirms that the regulatory approvals process remains well on track, and it is committed to completing the acquisition as quickly as possible. Aristocrat reiterates that the terms of the recommended acquisition provide full and fair value for Playtech shareholders, with attractive cash certainty.” The company continued.

A Long Road

The respective boards of Playtech and Aristocrat jointly announced a recommended cash acquisition of the former in October 2021, at $9.22 per share. JKO Play threw its hat in the ring in November of the same year, leading to speculation of a standoff between the two contenders. At the time, Aristocrat made a firm statement of its intent, saying,

“Our long term engagement with regulators across key gaming jurisdictions together with strong financial fundamentals, deep customer relationships and established presence in global gaming markets positions us to complete the transaction as planned in the second quarter of the calendar year 2022.”

As it turned out, a bidding war never emerged with JKO’s somewhat baffling decision to concede, as the company’s CEO had reportedly already sourced adequate funding for his offer from PartyGaming director and co-founder, Vikrant Bhargava.

Aristocrat closed off by appealing to the shareholders who are still cagey regarding their positions on the proposed acquisition, advising them to vote in favour of its offer.

“Aristocrat also notes comments in Playtech’s announcement regarding a number of material investors who have not to date engaged meaningfully about their views on the recommended acquisition. Aristocrat urges all Playtech shareholders to vote in favour of the recommended acquisition at the relevant shareholder meetings to be convened on February 2,” the statement concluded.

Bendigo council ramps up pokies harm minimisation measures

January 22, 2022 by Admin

Victoria’s Bendigo council has implemented a new policy designed to tackle gambling harm in the community.

The Greater Bendigo City Council’s Reducing Harm from Gambling Policy was passed in December 2021 and encompasses all forms of gambling, with a specific focus on electronic gaming machines (EGM’s), which are the most prevalent cause of gambling-related financial loss and harm in Australia.

The new policy was created in response to the discovery of high levels of gambling harm, identified via the Council’s planning projects.

Mayor Andrea Metcalf stated that the city would do its part in keeping its residents safe, saying,

“The objective of the policy is to ensure the Greater Bendigo community does not experience negative social and economic impacts from gambling. Harm from gambling impacts not only on the individual but also affects other family members, friends, local businesses and communities.”

Huge Losses

An estimate by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation puts the overall amount lost on gambling across the City at around $50 million.

“In 2018 and 2019, $50,671,968 was lost on EGMs in Greater Bendigo at 11 hotels and clubs who jointly operate 661 machines,” Metcalf said.

The City is has laid out numerous changes it plans to implement over the next four years, such as pushing the state government to introduce gambling regulatory reforms. Other proposed measures include $1 maximum bet limits, removing ATM’s and other cash dispensing mechanisms from EGM venues, and reducing the operating hours of EGM operators.

Any form of advertising and promotion of gambling at council-run facilities will be banned, gambling-related research will be granted more support and the city has committed to publishing updated gambling data on its website.

The draft policy faced community consultation in June 2021 to less than favourable reviews. 83 out of 95 of the respondents were opposed to the policy. Some respondents pointed out that sporting and other community-based clubs may be negatively impacted due to the loss of funds generated by EGM operators.

Others wondered what effect the policy would have on veterans or stated that not enough consultation had been conducted with local sporting and community-based clubs.

Metcalf countered that the widely negative feedback was due to misconceptions, saying,

“Many submissions were based on the misunderstanding that the council has the power and desire to remove all EGMs across the City, which is not possible nor is it the intent of the policy,” she said.

The draft policy has since been updated by the council after further analysis and the next review of the policy will take place in December 2023.

Study highlights importance of positive messages and betting limits in fight against gambling harm

January 19, 2022 by Admin

Australia’s largest regional university, CQUniversity, has published the results of a study that measured the efficacy of positive messages in moderating the behaviour of online gamblers.

Bankrolled by Gambling Research Australia (GRA), the study’s hypothesis revolves around the premise that online gambling presents a higher risk of gambling harm to players when compared to traditional gambling.

The study exposed over 2000 regular sports and race punters to randomised messages for five weeks. The researchers collected data on how much the players wagered, the amount of time they spent betting, and what level of gambling harm they experienced.

The participants reported that the positive messages on how to control their gambling spending were mostly useful and easy to absorb. Research Leader Professor Mathew Rockloff explained that the participants spent less time and money on gambling during the five weeks.

The study employed 27 messages created by the research team who consulted focus groups that comprised researchers, gambling-treatment providers, and regulators.

Missing Prompts

A separate study funded by the GRA discovered that consumers are not always directed to use the betting limit option. From over 3000 regular race and sports punters, only 41% said that they had put a betting limit in place with over half of those surveyed sharing that they were “unlikely” to set one.

This study ran for four weeks and featured a series of tailored messages regarding bet limits that were shown to over 1,200 regular players. Upon its conclusion, the study revealed that 32% of participants had set at least one type of limit.

These findings are likely to raise some concerns as Australian operators are obliged by law to inform consumers of the availability of deposit limits for their online gambling, and to provide constant reminders to players about creating or reviewing them.

SkyCity introduces its own vaccine mandate for its Adelaide venues

January 15, 2022 by Admin

SkyCity Entertainment has announced that it will require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for entry to any of its venues in Adelaide, with effect from Thursday 10 February.

This measure applies to all employees and patrons aged 18 and older who intend to enter gaming venues and anyone over the age of 16 at non-gaming venues. All will be required to show proof of full vaccination or a medical exemption to gain entry.

This covers venues within the casino and hotel Eos by SkyCity, as well as bars and restaurants like Sol, iTL, Madame Hanoi and Sean’s Kitchen, to name a few.

David Christian, the COO at SkyCity shared that this move is part of the company’s intention to ensure that it employs the most stringent levels of protection against COVID-19 and to secure the health and safety of its staff and customers.

“As one of Adelaide’s largest single-site entertainment venues and as a significant employer, we need to take measures to help keep everyone safe,” he said.

“While we have existing robust health and safety measures in place to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19, public health information and research confirms that COVID-19 vaccines provide the best protection for our employees and customers. SkyCity has been significantly impacted by the outbreak, and we have been encouraging our people to get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity.

“We would like to thank our highly valued employees and customers for their understanding,” he concluded.

Customers will need to show their COVID-19 digital certificate via their smart device or with photo identification accompanied by a printed certificate. Any customers with official medical exemptions will similarly need tooffer appropriate proof.

Pokies losses and profits pile up in NSW

January 12, 2022 by Admin

Bad news for players is good news for clubs and hotels in New South Wales as they recorded massive profits from the over $630 million lost on pokie in November 2021.

The majority of this revenue was generated by Sydney’s west and southwestern suburbs as players from Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, Cumberland and Blacktown local government racked up the largest losses.

According to data from the NSW Liquor and Gaming, gaming machine profits for November 2021 came in at $631,224,889 with venues in Canterbury-Bankstown pulling in a total net profit of over $56 million while Fairfield recorded over $52 million. Cumberland also fared very well, reporting a $35 million net profit with Blacktown and Sydney following with amounts of $28 million and $27 million, respectively.

NSW Pokies Enquiry Looms

The New South Wales Crime Commission has announced that it is gearing up to hold an inquiry into allegations of poker machine money laundering.

NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello has been met with support in his long-running efforts to establish this inquiry and Commissioner Michael Barnes advised that the commission would be investigating to what extent crime syndicates are involved.

“We know pubs and clubs deliver valuable community services and are assured ClubsNSW, the peak body for the industry, is committed to stamping out illegality. However, we expect the expert investigators, data analysts, lawyers and intelligence officers working on this project to uncover activities not previously known to operators or regulators that will assist to ensure pubs and clubs stay profitable while the community is protected,” Dominello said.

Covert Findings

The New South Wales government conducted a recent secret audit of two pokies venues and discovered multiple suspicious transactions. The investigation that followed the audit examined individual gaming machine transactions of five licensed venues that sought to identify suspicious activity. In preparation for the inquiry, the Commission has called for submissions relating to money laundering in licensed venues in NSW, targeting members of the public, subject experts, and existing or past employees of gambling venues. Submissions will be accepted until January 28.

If necessary, the NSW Crime Commission intends to employ the full extent of its powers, including compulsory hearings and phone tapping, to discover the truth behind the allegations.

Commissioner Michael Barnes, in an uncharacteristic move for his secretive agency, has reached out to the public, saying,

“As part of the inquiry, the commission is calling for submissions regarding the nature and extent of money laundering through licensed venues in NSW.

“Members of the public, academics with an interest in the area, current or past employees of pubs or clubs are invited to make submissions which can be kept confidential if desired.”