Melbourne's Tower Hotel Mandated to Cease Operation of Gaming Devices
The Tower Hotel in Hawthorn East, a suburb of Victoria, Australia, has faced criticism for not adhering to gambling regulations. This has led to the temporary deactivation of its gaming machines.
Rumotel Pty, responsible for managing The Tower, faces legal repercussions due to various breaches. The Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has taken steps against the company under the Gaming Regulation Act 2003, demanding necessary improvements.
The main concern is that The Tower seems not to have adhered to the obligation of providing the YourPlay pre-engagement solution. This technology enables players to track their gaming activity and time spent, both during one session and over time.
The VGCCC asserts that Rumotel failed to install YourPlay on all of their electronic gaming machines (EGMs) and that the associated YourPlay kiosk at The Tower was inoperative.
The operator has been instructed to fix the violations promptly.
Specific Fines & Sanctions
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VGCCR) imposed 35 charges on Rumotel, including the shutdown of its gaming devices until they show complete compliance. Out of the 35 charges, 34 are related to the missing technology.
An additional charge was imposed as The Tower staff didn't receive required training on YourPlay, a service provided by IGT that enables players to set limits on their gambling activities. Although the usage of YourPlay is optional and free, all EGMs in Victoria must feature this technology.
The company faced potential fines of up to AUD 758,172 (US$489,621). Previously, the VGCCC levied Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group with AUD550,000 (US$352,000) for similar offenses.
Proposed Bill
The federal government has put forth a proposal to prohibit credit cards and digital currency for online gambling. Violating this ban could incur penalties of up to AUD 150,470 (US $234,750). This measure also features a six-month temporal window to accommodate adjustments in betting methods.
This extensive plan to mitigate problem gambling encompasses monthly reports detailing successes and failures and the introduction of BetStop. This nationwide registration system enables individuals to exclude themselves from all Australian gambling platforms on a voluntary basis.
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