Victoria to Crack Down on Poker Machine Access Outside of Permitted Trading Hours

The VGCCC (Victoria Gambling and Casino Control Commission) has issued a stark warning to operators who continue to offer access to poker machines outside permitted hours. Regulations were implemented in August 2024 that required venues with poker machines to restrict access between 4:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

At present, consumers who want access to poker games can play at online casinos. Gambling expert Andjelija Blagojevic explains that bettors can access a variety of betting sites, with bonuses, competitive odds, robust security, and instant cashout options available. Online casinos can be accessed at any time of the day or night and are a convenient alternative to land-based operators.

As retail operations continue to fight against challenging market conditions and online competitors, some have risked penalties by allowing customers access to poker machines during prohibited periods. The VGCCC has threatened fines for those who don't comply, and this would not be the first time that operators have faced penalties for failing to adhere to regulations.

Last year, as many as 14 venues were fined for breaching opening hour regulations, with fines coming to AU$ 195,000. The largest fine of $60,000 was given to the Melbourne Racing Club, whose Peninsula Club, Coach and Horses, and Steeples all allowed play outside allotted hours. Other venues to be hit with fines over ANZAC Day and Good Friday include the Hoppers Crossing Club, the Goulburn  Hotel, the Court House Hotel, and the Peninsula Hotel Motel, which faced fines of $30,000, $20,000, and $15,000, respectively.

Poker machine hours are in line with a venue's liquor licensing hours, and as such, have additional restrictions during certain holidays like Christmas, Good Friday, and ANZAC Day. It is the responsibility of the venue to plan properly for these holidays and ensure public access to poker machines is restricted at the appropriate times.

If venues are found to be in breach of regulations, the penalties issued will be affected by how long the breaches continued, how much revenue was generated out of allotted hours, and the history of compliance of each venue.

Poker machines, or 'Pokies' as they are also known in Australia, are the most popular casino game, with hotel and club machines taking in a GGR of $3.03 billion for the 2023-24 financial year, with a further $950 million being generated by poker machines and table games at Melbourne casinos. This helped to generate over $1.4 billion in taxes and levies.

As one of the world's top gambling nations, regulators must work to protect consumers without hindering industry growth. Poker machine operating hours are one way to do this, but access to online operations has undermined this to some degree.

While the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act prohibits online casino operations in Australia, consumers are able to access offshore sites where they can find a wide selection of games and enticing deals. Whether this will affect the long-term future of online gambling in Australia remains to be seen.