South Australia’s Malinauskas Labour Government is planning to introduce amendments to the jurisdiction’s laws regarding the financial penalties companies can face for not adhering to the state’s gambling regulations.
At present, the maximum fine that operators are forced to pay should their transgressions be severe enough stands at AU$100,000. If the amendments are passed, however, the potential penalty limit will increase to up to AU$75 million. In addition, the changes are planned to be retroactive, that is, they will also affect past disciplinary action.
The update is tied to casino operator Skycity Entertainment Group Limited and its SkyCity Adelaide business. For years, SkyCity Adelaide has been on the receiving end of legal scrutiny from the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner (OLGC), with breaches of money-laundering rules and other laws being among the main issues. The proposal would result in SkyCity Adelaide having to pay the maximum AU$75 million fine.
Businesses that have committed criminal offences, such as not paying casino duty, neglecting to keep financial accounts, and the like, will also face harsher consequences if the Government of South Australia moves forward with its plans.
Information regarding the potential changes was published just a week after SkyCity Entertainment announced the appointment of Jason Walbridge, who will begin serving as the Group’s chief executive officer (CEO) starting this July.
The Penalties Will Serve to Keep Companies in Check
According to the Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Andrea Michaels, being the only casino licence holder in South Australia is a “privilege that should not be taken for granted.” She pointed out that the laws governing the way licensees are punished have remained the same for over 25 years and that now, they should be updated so that non-compliance can be punished accordingly.
She continued, claiming that punishment that is simply “a slap on the wrist” and could easily be thought of as just another business expense must not be what prominent gambling operators are penalised with. Michaels concluded her statement by saying that the State Government’s reforms will result in “a greater level of accountability and responsibility.”
South Australia is not the only Aussie state that strives to improve the gambling landscape within its territory. As previously reported by Casino Guardian, the regulators of New South Wales have enforced a law that now mandates the appointment of responsible gambling officers in establishments that offer casino entertainment through gaming machines.
Victoria’s gambling watchdog also amended some of the regulations pertaining to gambling, specifically with regard to how online gambling operators must issue the activity statements of registered users. Under the new rules, statements must be presented with a cohesive design that involves the usage of plain English and black and white colours. The lack of jargon that is not needed and could harm clarity has also been mandated. What is more, the statements will need to come with gambling harm warnings. Failure to adhere to the aforementioned requirements can result in a fine of over AU$11,500 per activity statement.
- Author
Daniel Williams
