Leisure and Hospitality Group of Australia (ALH) was fined $550,000 for operating 220 consoles without installing mandatory Advance Promise Technology (YourPlay) following the indictment by the Victoria Commission on Gambling and Casino Control (VGCCC).

The breach by ALH, Australia’s largest electronic game console operator, was described as serious and deliberate in a magistrate’s ruling. In addition to the fine, ALH was ordered to pay VGCCC’s $50,000 legal fee.

In November 2022, the VGCCC charged ALH with 62 counts of failing to ensure that YourPlay was properly installed on game consoles that span 62 of 77 venues. YourPlay is a statewide advance commitment scheme that empowers players to set time and loss limits and make informed decisions about gambling. In Victoria, YourPlay should be available on all electronic game consoles.

The VGCCC argued that the seriousness and deliberate nature of ALH infringement were considered a major factor in sentencing, given that your play regime plays a role in reducing gambling damage in Victoria.

The magistrate noted that ALH’s initial guilty plea and cooperation with the VGCCC contributed to reducing fines from up to $1.35 million. 실시간 바카라사이트

“This result demonstrates VGCCC’s commitment to tracking operators who opportunistically or deliberately violate their obligations to protect their communities from gambling harm,” said Annette Kimmit AM, CEO of VGCCC. “Gambling providers need to pay close attention to their obligations because the consequences for doing it wrong can be great.”

Following an anonymous tip-off at the end of 2021, the VGCCC conducted a surprise inspection of ALH venues across Victoria, identifying and shutting down 220 non-compliant game consoles.