The allegations stem from one player being permitted to continue gambling despite reports that they had brought a minor onto the casino floor. 

As well as this, there were also allegations that CEO Ciarán Carruthers had allowed a player back onto the casino floor after they had been removed for being too intoxicated. That being said, the report emphasised that both cases levelled against Carruthers were allegations. 

Earlier in the month, NSW regulators sought to increase the guidelines around consumers being too drunk on premises as well as halting minors from entering the establishment. 

It was underlined that significant sanctions would be in place for those who break the rules in the state. 

A statement from Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations, Jane Lin, said: “If a minor is caught within a casino, we may exclude them from re-entering for a period from their 18th birthday, which means they won’t be able to visit until they’re at least 19, and they may be issued with a fine.

“Minors will also not be allowed to keep any winnings from gambling and will leave empty-handed. We have also reminded the casino operators of their obligations to prevent minors from entering casinos including by ensuring that casino staff are checking IDs where necessary.”

The post Crown Resorts set to investigate CEO appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The committee wishes to follow a similar guidance to that of the South Australian Government’s gambling advertising Codes of Practice, which has a ban on gambling adverts on TV between the hours of 4pm and 7:30pm.

The report – Gambling and liquor regulation in Victoria: a follow up of three Auditor-General reports – is a culmination of over eight months by the PAEC reviewing three Auditor-General’s reports relating to the regulation of gambling and liquor, and reducing the harm caused by gambling.

“Our report’s 96 findings and 61 recommendations have been informed by 54 public submissions, three days of public hearings, a Geelong site visit and a youth roundtable,” commented Committee Chair Sarah Connolly.

The report cited a 2021 Australian Communications and Media Authority-commissioned study that found an “average of 948 gambling ads were broadcast daily on free-to-air TV and an average of 148 gambling ads were broadcast between 6.00pm–8.30pm every weeknight”.

In addition, the report stated that “between May 2022 and April 2023, more than one million gambling ads aired on free-to-air television and radio across Australia, the ‘clear majority’ being from online wagering companies”. 

Connolly noted: “More appropriate regulations and safeguards are needed to protect Victorians, especially our children and young people.”

A group of young people who shared their lived experiences with gambling and alcohol during an event at Parliament House in August were also present in Parliament for the tabling of the report earlier this week.

The report has also asked the government to consider reducing the total number of electronic gaming machines across the state and updating the gambling and alcohol-related harms education resources for students.

The PAEC has also recommended that any venue that wishes to increase the number of EGMs it has must prove that it will provide a “net economic and social benefit” to the community.

It has also been recommended that the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission establish a regular consultation with the local government regarding the current gambling regulations in the state and any measures that could be taken to reduce gambling harm.

The Victorian government has been asked to review daily, weekly and annual gambling loss limits as well, including examining frameworks present in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Tasmania.

The government is also being asked to work with the Coroners Court of Victoria to expand its data analysis of gambling-related suicides in Victoria, as well as explore if the Community Support Fund can provide greater support for programmes to prevent and reduce gambling harm.

In addition, the report is also asking the government to review what percentage of gaming revenue is redirected into the community and if there is a public benefit to redirecting the 8.33 per cent of gaming revenue of clubs with electronic gaming machine licences to a publicly-managed fund targeted towards reducing and preventing gambling harm.

The PAEC has also recommended that the VGCCC increase the number of ‘mystery shopper’ compliance exercises it conducts, as well as develop performance measures that show the impact of its harm minimisation legislative responsibilities.

The committee has also asked for gambling prevention and treatment programmes to be delivered by a health-based agency, as well as support the development of a gambling research plan to guide future funded research, address evidence gaps and improve treatment.

The report also calls for an update to the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation’s reducing gambling harm outcomes framework, for the government to advocate for comprehensive anonymised data from online gambling providers on product use by customers, and real-time anonymised data from online providers as a licensing condition.

The PAEC has also recommended the government consider how Gambling Codes of Conduct and minimisation ministerial directions can be designed to minimise gambling harm in young people, as well as an update to resources available, and for future licences to include gambling harm minimisation conditions.

The report is also asking the government to provide in-principle support for a national ombudsman for complaints against online gambling providers.

To read the full report from the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, click here.

The post Victoria government committee calls for primetime TV gambling advert ban appeared first on CasinoBeats.

1.33

The Dutch online gambling market is continuing to meet channelisation goals, however, the nation’s regulator, Kansspelautoriteit, noted that growth appears to be levelling off two years after the legal ecosystem was introduced.

Despite gross gaming revenue increasing to €1.33bn during August 2022 to July 2023, the Ksa has acknowledged that this growth is not as strong as previously witnessed.

During August 2022 to January 2023 ongoing momentum brought a 33 per cent uptick, however, this slowed to eight per cent during the following six months. Online casino games are the largest segment, taking a 74 per cent share.

2023

Star Entertainment vowed to learn the lessons from the past amid a proclamation that 2023 “will be remembered as a watershed year” for the company. 

The comments were made by David Foster, Chair and Independent Non-Executive Director, in the operator’s latest annual report, following a series of regulatory run-ins that have blighted the Australian casino industry.

However, the company asserted that it is emerging from “a period when we committed to changing the ways we fundamentally behave and operate”.

Foster added: “It followed deep self-reflection, and learning our lessons from the past, to help ensure the events that left us challenged in so many ways never happen again.”

24.5

Greek operator group OPAP hit back after receiving a €24.5m fine from the Hellenic Gaming Commission for violating Greek and European Union competition rules. 

OPAP, which stated that it “strongly disagrees” with the financial action imposed, received the penalty as the Hellenic Cooperative of Professional Lotteries issued complaints stating that the firm had unfairly instigated non-compete clauses from 2017-2022, and had therefore undermined legislation on free market competition. 

Seen as a violation of Greek and the EU’s fair competition standards, the company was accused of infringing articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, relating to unfair pricing, limited distribution of equipment and imposing unfair conditions on transactions. 

As a result of the breaches, the HGC issued a fine to represent €10,000 per day that the violations are deemed to have occurred, which stands at a total of €24.5m. 

2

US Integrity and Odds On Compliance disclosed a merger to form “a global powerhouse”, following the pair aligning earlier in the year to form the ProhiBet compliance solution.

This union, the two companies said, will create an industry leading force of expertise, innovation, and solutions for betting operators and professional and collegiate sports organisations.

The combination is expected to close later in the month, subject to certain shareholder and regulatory approvals as well as customary closing conditions.

28

Super Group disclosed the immediate cessation of all activities within the Indian market, citing changes to the country’s Goods and Services Tax.

The parent company of the Betway and Spin brands noted that the decision was implemented from October 1, 2023, adding that the new rules make the region “no longer commercially viable”.

Earlier in the year, India’s Parliament gave approval for the Goods and Services Tax Council to amend tax rates applied to companies deemed to be providing gambling services, regardless of domicile.

The approval saw the GST apply a 28 per cent turnover tax on all services for online gambling, land-based casinos and horse racing.

The GST Council, comprising the Union Finance Minister and delegates from every state and union territory in India, holds the authority to determine tax rates, exemptions, and administrative processes.

331

Golden Matrix entered into a further amended and restated Meridianbet purchase agreement, which has extended the potential date of completion and modified terms on closing. 

The transaction, with a value of approximately $331m, raised from $300m in a prior amendment, is now expected to close in the fourth quarter of the current year or the first of 2024.

This is subject to a range of customary closing conditions that include, but not limited to, GMGI shareholder approval and Nasdaq approval, among other items.

10

The Australian state of Victoria introduced its Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 to parliament in the latest stage of ongoing efforts to ramp up protections from gambling harms across the region.

Melissa Horne, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, put forward the changes, which would enforce mandatory closure periods for pokie spaces across the region. 

This would see electronic gaming machine areas of all venues, except casinos, be subjected to a closure period between 4am and 10am every day. This is slated to enter into force during mid-2024.

In addition to this, the Bill would also extend powers to ban harmful betting on activities that take place outside of Victoria, such as sports played by minors.

42

The American Gaming Association’s latest Gaming Industry Outlook study suggested that top gaming executives are remaining positive when it comes to current business conditions. 

In partnership with Fitch Ratings, the study found that an ‘overwhelming majority’ of executives surveyed find the current business situation to be ‘good’ (42 per cent) or ‘satisfactory’ (55 per cent). 

While representing a positive outlook on the industry, these figures do show a slight decrease from Q1’s statistics, in which 62 per cent reported conditions to be ‘good’ and 35 per cent answered ‘satisfactory’.  

Analysing future projections, when asked about their thoughts on future business conditions, over half of those quizzed expect the next three to six months to be the same (58 per cent). 

72

Mandatory pre-verification for all online gambling has gone live in Australia, with every player registering for an account now set to have their age and identity verified by an operator before they can place a wager.

In a move welcomed by Responsible Wagering Australia, this change, which officially entered into force on September 29, 2023, replaced a 72-hour window that was previously in place.

The independent body welcomed the move as a much needed assist for providers in identifying and preventing underage individuals, as well as those that may have self-excluded through BetStop, from using such services.

The post Greek fine, Indian exit, lessons learned and M&A: <br> the week in numbers appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Melissa Horne, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, put forward the changes, which would enforce mandatory closure periods for pokie spaces across the region. 

This would see electronic gaming machine areas of all venues, except casinos, be subjected to a closure period between 4am and 10am every day. This is slated to enter into force during mid-2024.

This was deemed a necessary step as evidence was said to have been gathered that certain pubs and hotels were implementing staggered opening hours. This would encourage patrons to move between nearby venues to continue gambling.

“Providing people with a break in play is an important gambling harm prevention measure, as it gives people a chance to stop and consider the decisions they are making and whether they’re prepared to potentially lose more money,” a media release noted.

In addition to this, the Bill would also extend powers to ban harmful betting on activities that take place outside of Victoria, such as sports played by minors.

Additional Victoria reforms

A further package of reforms was also rolled-out earlier in the year, with the sweeping adjustment being designed “to provide Victorians with the strongest gambling harm protections in the country”.

These include mandatory pre-commitment limits and carded play for all electronic gaming machines, capped load up limits of $100, down from $1,000, and a slowing of spin rates to reduce the pace of games

In addition, from December of this year, any individual that accesses a gaming machine at Crown Melbourne will be required to track their play using the pre-commitment system, YourPlay. 

Furthermore, by December 2025, this must be implemented on table games, such as poker and baccarat, requiring technology to be developed.

“Our previous reforms have delivered stronger oversight of the gambling industry in Victoria with a regulator unafraid to hold venues to account – now we’re doing more important work to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm,” Horne noted.

“We’ve seen predatory behaviour from some venues, allowing people to keep gambling for hours, at any hour. Closing gaming areas between 4am and 10am will give people an important break to reassess and walk away.”

Response to ‘alarming behaviour’

Each step highlighted is said to have come in response to “the alarming behaviour” uncovered by a Royal Commission into Crown Resorts’ operator licence. Following a finding of unsuitability, a series of 33 recommendations were passed as the company vowed to win back the trust of the regulator and public. 

The wider fall-out saw Crown Resorts’ Melbourne-based gaming venue receive a mammoth A$120m in fines from the VGCCC in November 2022, which followed a A$80m fine over the China Union Pay process that was issued six months earlier.

An investigation regarding the former discovered that the operator had breached its responsible gaming code of conduct over many years.

This, it was said, was done by consistently failing to intervene to prevent gambling harm that allowed customers to often gamble for long periods without a break, sometimes for more than 24 hours.

Furthermore, among the numerous findings, it was also revealed that the firm failed to comply with a statutory direction by the regulator to take all reasonable steps to prevent patrons from using plastic picks, and other devices, to simulate automatic play when gambling on certain electronic gaming machines.

Earlier in the year, Crown Melbourne accepted a A$20m fine from the VGCCC for breaching casino tax obligations.

The post Victoria takes ‘major step’ towards preventing ‘predatory behaviour’ appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Set against the backdrop of a 2021 royal commission and numerous recent financial sanctions and gambling reforms, the scale of the fine, the VGCCC said, reflects a failure to comply with directions to provide information concerning the issue. This left the group’s wagering and betting system unavailable for around 36 hours. 

“We will not tolerate licensees that are not forthcoming and cooperative when the Commission investigates,” said Fran Thorn, VGCCC Chair.   

“The Commission had to use its compulsory powers and issue directions because Tabcorp did not provide the information we required about the business continuity and disaster recovery capability of its systems. It is Tabcorp’s failure to comply with these directions that has led to the fine announced today.”  

Historic outage at Tabcorp

Tabcorp suffered the outage on Saturday 7 November 2022, however, due to an obligation for the WBS to be continuously available, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, the VGCCC’s predecessor, commenced an investigation.

The regulator noted that its directions were issued after the company was not voluntarily forthcoming with provision of adequate information concerning the outage.

Furthermore, the VGCCC added that Tabcorp’s conduct during the course of its investigation impacted the authority’s ability to understand the cause of the problem, as well as gain certainty that it would not recur.

It was found that the group did not comply with the VGCCC’s first direction as it did not provide a response that confirmed its business continuity and disaster recovery arrangements were fit for purpose. 

In addition, Tabcorp was also deemed to have failed with a second direction by submitting a compliant report four months after the imposed deadline. 

The maximum penalty for contravening Commission directions is $9,087,000. This is the fourth disciplinary action taken against the firm, with letters of censure, directions and fines of between A$5,000 and A$30,000 previously imposed.

It was noted that due to these previous infractions, and that its latest contraventions are deemed “significantly more serious”, it was not entitled to leniency in this case.

“All entities we regulate — no matter how big or small — have an obligation to be open and honest with the Commission and responsive to its lawfully issued directions,” Thorn added. “We will not tolerate attempts to frustrate our investigations.” 

Regulatory reforms in Victoria

In October 2021, Crown Resorts was able to retain its Melbourne casino licence, despite a royal commission deeming the group to be “unsuitable” on the basis that it engaged in “illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative” conduct.

However, one of a number of recommendations stemming from the case included not striping the operator of its licence as “immediate cancellation of the licence is not in the interests of the Victorian community”.

Subsequently, a number of remediation efforts and financial penalties have followed, with the latter including sanctions of A$120m, A$80m and $20m for a range of failures.

Most recently, pokie giant Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group was fine A$550,000 for operating 220 gaming machines without the installation of a mandatory YourPlay pre-commitment technology.

Additional regulatory action within the state has also hit BlueBet, which was found to have illegally displayed advertisements.

Electronic gaming machines have become one of a number of targets of fresh reforms taking place, with Victoria limiting how much players can stake, when they can do so and the speed of which it can be undertaken.

Furthermore, the region has also cracked down on wagering on minors in sporting events, and issued a warning to sports clubs and online wagering providers regarding community expectations surrounding partnerships between the two.

The post Tabcorp fined A$1m in Victoria for 2020’s racing carnival outage appeared first on CasinoBeats.

It is thought that the gaming enterprise, which comprised an A$8,000 buy-in, had been operating on a weekly basis and could feature as many as 50 patrons attending per night on a frequent basis.

It is also alleged that an unlicensed bar was serving alcohol, while attendees were also in possession of drugs while inside the premises.

The alleged operator that could face the most severe sanction. A 35-year-old male from Truganina, where the casino was also based, is expected to be charged on summons with conducting unauthorised gambling, advertising unauthorised gambling, selling liquor without a licence, consuming liquor on unlicensed premises and having liquor on unlicensed premises.

The remaining patrons could be charged with being inside an unauthorised gambling premises, consuming liquor on unlicensed premises and drug possession offences.

Detectives had been monitoring the premises before a major police operation was launched this week. Police continue to work in collaboration with the Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission to enforce rules in the liquor and gambling industry.

Scott Colson, Westgate Police Division Inspector, explained: “The Westgate Divisional Response Unit has been running an ongoing investigation into the activities of this clandestine casino, where we will allege a range of criminal offences, including drug trafficking have been committed.

“Our investigation concluded last night, as local detectives, the VIPER Taskforce, State Liquor Unit and Public Order Response Team executed a warrant which led to the arrest of 21 people.

“When significant quantities of cash are seized from organised crime syndicates, we know this deals a hammer blow to their ability to fund further illegal activity.

We’ve put a stop to a large amount of money ending up in the hands of the wrong people, which could have then been used for further criminal offending in the community.

“If you are involved in any kind of organised criminal activity, make no mistake, we have our eyes on you.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to make sure drugs and firearms don’t end up on our streets and those pushing illegitimate business or organised criminal activity are held to account.”

The post Melbourne police arrest 21 after discovering illegal high-end casino appeared first on CasinoBeats.

This has seen the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission ban betting on all under 19 sports competitions, as well as the performance of individual players who are under 18 in junior and senior sport. 

The letters state: “The VGCCC is of the view that betting on contingencies in sporting events relating to the performance of an individual minor in that sporting event is contrary to the public interest.” It is added that this also poses potential integrity and gambling related harm concerns.

Further issues highlighted by the regulator of the Australian state are the potential susceptibility of minors should an approach seeking to undermine the integrity of a sporting event be undertaken, as well as the potential of normalising gambling on events involving children. 

The prohibition outlaws wagers on sports where all participants are minors, events for under-19s and open events where minors are playing. The ban will be in place for specific outcomes, such as first goal and wicket, however, they can still be made on team sports when minors may be playing. 

Numerous sporting bodies have subsequently been informed to ensure that agreements with betting providers to ensure the subsequent updates are in place, with a 60 day compliance requirement being implemented.

The ruling follows letters sent by the VGCCC to sports controlling bodies in February reminding them of their obligations in relation to sports integrity, and requesting information about the potential of restricting certain markets.

“The idea that it is okay to bet on minors just doesn’t stand up. We think minors deserve to be protected. It also raises integrity issues, with the prospect of people attempting to influence how minors might behave playing sport,” commented Fran Thorn, VGCCC Chair.

“If sports controlling bodies and betting providers do not comply with this decision we will take action, which may include revoking our approval of sports controlling bodies and prosecuting betting providers.”  

Last month, the VGCCC detailed EGM reforms that will limit how much players can stake, when they can do so and the speed of which it can be undertaken.

As disclosed by Premier Daniel Andrews and Melissa Horne, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, the changes are charged with introducing additional protections to build on those already introduced.

The post Victoria regulator to prohibit wagers on minors in sports events appeared first on CasinoBeats.

As disclosed by Premier Daniel Andrews and Melissa Horne, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, the changes are charged with introducing additional protections to build on those already introduced.

Among the reforms to hit venues across the state are mandatory pre-commitment load-up limits, which will be dropped from the current $1,000 limit to $100, and carded play, in a bid to cut money laundering through Victoria’s gaming venues.

These will be introduced through “thorough consultation with industry through an implementation working group”.

This will take into account similar work across other jurisdictions, as well the the experience gained via Crown Melbourne, which will have mandated pre-commitment and carded play on all EGMs by the end of the current year.

In addition, by mid-2024 obligatory closure periods for all gaming machine areas, except those in a casino, will be enforced between 4am and 10am. 

Pokies will also be subjected to a three second spin rate, while the government “will keep pace” with emerging technologies.

“These reforms will provide the strongest gambling harm prevention and anti-money laundering measures in Australia – we owe it to all Victorians to take this stance and help those experiencing harm turn their lives around,” Andrews noted.

“I look forward to the implementation working group’s input and effort.”

The VGCCC began operating in July 2022, with a new regulatory mandate to minimise gambling harm and problem gambling. A raft of changes to state laws subsequently came into effect in September 2022.

Among the alterations entering into force included 24 hour clearance of electronic gaming machine winnings of $2,000 or more paid via electronic funds transfer, as well as a minor gaming permit only being required to conduct a raffle where the prize is above A$20,000.

This year’s budget includes $71m for the VGCCC to take on a larger role in gambling harm minimisation ahead of taking over most of the functions of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation from July 1, 2024.

“Everyone loses when it comes to gambling harm, and it’s not confined to money – people lose their relationships, their jobs and their wellbeing,” Horne said.

“Our previous reforms have delivered stronger oversight of the gambling industry in Victoria with a regulator unafraid to hold venues to account – now we’re doing more important work to reduce gambling-related harm.”

In November of last year, Crown Resorts’ Melbourne-based gaming venue received a mammoth A$120m in fines from the VGCCC, which followed a A$80m fine over the China Union Pay process that was issued six months earlier.

An investigation regarding the former discovered that the operator had breached its responsible gaming code of conduct over many years.

This, it was said, was done by consistently failing to intervene to prevent gambling harm that allowed customers to often gamble for long periods without a break, sometimes for more than 24 hours.

Furthermore, among the numerous findings, it was also revealed that the firm failed to comply with a statutory direction by the regulator to take all reasonable steps to prevent patrons from using plastic picks, and other devices, to simulate automatic play when gambling on certain electronic gaming machines.

Earlier in the year, Crown Melbourne accepted a A$20m fine from the VGCCC for breaching casino tax obligations.

The post Victoria introduces fresh gaming reforms on players’ staking habits appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Dubbed the ‘China Union Pay process,’ this comes in relation to the findings of the state’s royal commission into the casino and entertainment operator, which found that the group had devised the ploy in a bid to evade Chinese currency restrictions.

The royal commission report described the process as “the use of the Chinese-based bank card, China Union Pay, to allow international patrons to access funds in order to gamble at Crown Melbourne,” which occurred between 2012 and 2016.

This, it is added, was devised due to restrictions imposed on Chinese nationals transferring money out of the country, with the process initially seeing the issuance of a room charge bill to patrons that falsely asserted that the hotel had provided services.

“The patron would pay the bill [using their China Union Pay card] and be given a voucher acknowledging receipt of funds,” the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission confirmed.

“Then the patron, accompanied by a Crown VIP host, took the voucher to the cage and exchanged it for cash or chips.”

Actions available to the VGCC, which adds that it will make a further announcement once in has considered Crown’s response, include imposing a fine of up at A$100m, varying its casino licence, and/or censuring the company and directing it to take rectification steps.

Fran Thorn, VGCCC Chair, explained: “I welcome the legislative amendments which impose stronger regulatory obligations on Crown and provide the VGCCC with greater enforcement powers. These powers are needed to deter Crown from engaging in the conduct that was revealed during the royal commission.

“As a first step, we are acting on the royal commission’s findings that Crown’s China Union Pay process breached important Victorian regulatory obligations, was illegal and constituted serious misconduct.”

In a statement, Crown says that it will “fully cooperate” with the VGCC “on this and any other matters arising from the Victorian royal commission report”.

During 2021, a royal commission was conducted into the company which found that Crown Melbourne is unsuitable to hold its casino licence and contravened several of its obligations.

However, the group retained its Melbourne casino licence, despite the royal commission deeming Crown “unsuitable” on the basis that it engaged in “illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative” conduct.

In response, 33 recommendations were issued, including a special manager being appointed to oversee the company’s reform agenda, before suitability will again be assessed after a two-year period.

This followed a ruling along the same lines being made in New South Wales, with a Western Australian royal commission also recently reporting similar findings. 

The post Crown facing Victoria disciplinary proceedings for Union Pay scheme appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The new licences, which will run to 2042, will include services in both retail and online settings and are set to commence from April 15, 2022. 

Upgrading its current 10-year retail-only licence which was awarded in 2012 for a payment of AUS$60m, Tabcorp’s latest Keno agreement came with an up-front fee of AUS$25m.

Sue van der Merwe, Managing Director, Lotteries & Keno at Tabcorp, remarked: “Tabcorp is pleased to continue its partnership with the Victorian government. with the longer term and expanded channel flexibility offered under this licence.

“The new structure will allow us to continue offering Victorian players a world class Keno product and responsibly grow the game further, backed by our extensive retail and brand presence and the expertise gained from our existing Keno online business.”

Tabcorp also holds sole, and long-dated, licences and approvals to conduct Keno in New South Wales, together with its co-licensee ClubKeno, which expires in 2050, the ACT (expiry 2064), South Australia (expiry 2052) and Queensland (expiry 2047).

Alongside Tabcorp’s licence, Lottoland Australia lauded the decision by the Victorian State Government to award it a 20-year licence to provide Keno games services within the state

Following the licence approval, Lottoland is said to launch its online platform KenoGo “in the coming months”.

Nigel Birrell, CEO of Lottoland, added: “We are thrilled to have been granted a Keno licence by the Victoria State Government and look forward to launching KenoGo in 2022.

“I would like to personally thank the Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Melissa Horne, and the Victorian State Government for awarding the first dual licence in Australia.

“Most importantly, this licence means that consumers in Victoria will be able to enjoy Keno online on their smartphone or computer for the first time ever, with new gaming experiences and greater choice through Lottoland.”

The new Keno licensing regime follows the Victorian government’s Keno Licence Review and subsequent invitation to apply for a Keno licence process. It sees a return to the pre-2012 structure of having two authorised Keno operators in Victoria.

The post Tabcorp and Lottoland seal Victoria Keno licences appeared first on CasinoBeats.