Betting on minor sporting events has been forbidden by the VGCCC
New Gambling Regulations in Victoria Crack Down on Betting Involving Minors
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has announced new regulations aimed at strengthening enforcement against betting involving minors and protecting the integrity of sporting events.
In a letter sent in February, the VGCCC expressed concerns about betting on minors and its potential harm to the sports industry. The commission has implemented new rules to ban minors (under 19) and gamblers from placing bets on sports events involving minors.
Several things have been prohibited from betting on, including sports events where all players are minors and sports events for people younger than 19 years. The VGCCC believes that betting on the performance of an individual minor in a sporting event is contrary to the public interest.
The commission has also expressed its view on the matter in an official press release. Fran Thorn, Chair of VGCCC, emphasized the need to protect minors from betting and potential influences. Thorn stated that non-compliance may lead to revoking approval of sports controlling bodies and prosecuting betting providers.
In addition to these measures, the VGCCC is focusing on responsible gambling and harm reduction. A trial of mandatory carded play requiring gamblers to use a YourPlay card and set loss limits before accessing electronic gaming machines is currently underway.
The VGCCC regulates all gambling activities in Victoria. Independent sports not regulated and approved by authorities are also subject to this prohibition. In open sports events where minors are playing, bets can theoretically be placed on the whole team but not on specific minor players and their outcomes.
The new regulations are part of broader gambling reforms in Victoria aimed at reducing harm and upholding the integrity of gambling and sports sectors. The VGCCC has also taken steps to prevent minors' exposure to gambling marketing linked to sports. Legislation now explicitly requires that sports betting advertising must not be targeted toward underage audiences, and children must not be shown in any sports betting advertising.
These measures reflect efforts to maintain the integrity of sporting events and their connection to betting markets. While the search results do not detail new specific laws about the integrity of sports betting events themselves, the prohibition of underage-targeted advertising and efforts to link gambling more responsibly to sport imply regulatory attention in this area.
Three hotels were fined AU$38,000 by the VGCCC for allowing minors to gamble on their premises during 2024. This indicates intensified scrutiny and penalties for venues permitting underage gambling.
In summary, the new regulations strengthen enforcement against minors gambling and restrict the targeting of sports betting advertising toward underage groups, forming part of broader gambling reforms in Victoria aimed at reducing harm and upholding the integrity of gambling and sports sectors.
- The new regulations in Victoria have banned minors (under 19) and gamblers from placing bets on sports events involving minors, as stated by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC).
- Gambling activities that are prohibited from betting on include sports events where all players are minors and sports events for people younger than 19 years, as per the new rules implemented by the VGCCC.
- In addition to these measures, the VGCCC is implementing responsible gambling practices, such as a trial of mandatory carded play for gamblers using a YourPlay card and setting loss limits before accessing electronic gaming machines.
- The VGCCC also oversees the gambling industry and has taken steps to prevent minors' exposure to gambling marketing linked to sports, including new laws that require sports betting advertising not to be targeted towards underage audiences and prohibit children from being shown in any sports betting advertising.
