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Victorian gambling venues face Christmas compliance warning after $58,000 penalty spree

Victorian gambling venues face Christmas compliance warning after $58,000 penalty spree

By Guest Author

February 4, 2026

Victorian gambling establishments were fined $58,000 following 12 establishments using gaming machines to run outside legal hours on Good Friday and ANZAC Day.

Nine venues received fines and three received official warnings at the hands of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission. Clayton RSL got the biggest penalty, $15,000, because they'd been caught before.

In determining the penalties, the commission considers the duration of the violation by the venues, the money earned, and whether the venues had violated the rules previously. The 11 venues were fined $180,000 last year due to these issues.

VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan told venues they'd better get their act together before Christmas. Gaming machines can only operate during liquor licence hours, and there are tougher rules on public holidays like Christmas Day, Good Friday, and ANZAC Day.

These rules exist because the community expects respect for important days. Since August, all gaming venues except casinos must close poker machine areas from 4am to 10am every day.

All these restrictions have pushed more Australians toward mobile casinos. These platforms are open 24/7 and offer a wider game variety. In most physical casinos, the game selection is limited to a few games, and the odds are not as favorable as in mobile options.

Australians are now gaming online more often (more than 11% of the population is now regular gamers, compared to 8% in 2020). The Quebec Treasury reported that online gambling turnover in Australia increased by 165.7% in the previous year to 75.4 million in 2022-2023.

This digital shift has put pressure on traditional venues. While online platforms operate around the clock, pubs and clubs face strict time limits and holiday restrictions. The gap between what online and physical venues can offer keeps growing wider.

Conventional places cannot find the balance between customer desires and legal provisions. The demand is high, with three-quarters of Australian adults gambling last year. This gets harder during busy times when people want to gamble, but restrictions kick in.

Convenience drives many people to try digital options for gambling entertainment. Mobile platforms appeal to people who don't want to deal with venue restrictions or travel to gambling locations.

The commission keeps working on new rules for electronic gaming machine applications while watching existing venues closely. Traditional venues face more regulatory scrutiny than ever.

Mobile gaming works within current laws but doesn't face the same time limits or location problems that affect pubs and clubs. Digital platforms also avoid the compliance costs and regulatory complexity that venue operators must navigate.

Victorian gambling venues face Christmas compliance warning after $58,000 penalty spree

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