The bingo review, which was announced today (6 June), will solicit feedback from members of the Victoria community and those with a stake in the sector. In doing so, it will gain a better grasp of the difficulties faced by the business and investigate potential avenues for improving industry and regulatory standards, according to the VGCCC. 

The Commission will investigate the viability of the present bingo regulations in Victoria. It will also examine how much of the revenues are going to local organisations and how vulnerable cash transactions are to criminal activity. 

Commercial bingo in Victoria brought in a cool 107 million Australian dollars (about $56 million, €65 million, or $71 million) in the fiscal year ending in 30 June 2023, reckoning with the VGCCC. This is a significant improvement over the $61 million won in keno during the same time frame. 

Fran Thorn, chair of the Commission, reported that "the commercial bingo landscape has modernised" in recent years. It is moving away from the old-fashioned paper games and towards newer, more technological ones with bigger prizes. 

It is critical that we evaluate and resolve concerns related to honesty, fairness, and the possibility of gambling harm in light of this development. This is especially crucial for vulnerable populations like the elderly, women, and people living on reduced incomes, as well as First Nations communities. 

Thorn elaborates by saying that the VGCCC is still getting complaints and accusations of unlicensed operators and perhaps fraudulent activity, even though regulators are keeping an eye on it. So, it will poll the public for ideas on how to refine the restrictions. 

"This is a chance to truly grasp the mechanics of bingo and how it is transforming with technology," Thorn remarked. We are cognisant of the fact that bingo serves as a social outlet for a sizable portion of the Victoria community. 

"We aim to comprehend the dangers, lessen the chances of damage, and halt any actions endangering the honesty and equity of the game." 

Customers, businesses, and community groups are all encouraged to participate in the investigation by the VGCCC. 

Victoria modifies policies regarding online gambling accounts 
The investigation is the most recent development in Victoria's continuous campaign to strengthen gaming laws. 

Modifications to regulations pertaining to virtual gaming accounts in Virginia were authorised by the VGCCC in April. How players perceive their expenditure and financial setbacks are part of this. 

The emphasis of these updates is on the presentation of specific data to users of online gaming accounts. Included in this is data on expenditure; the net loss does not include free or bonus bets anymore. 

The monthly statements that players get now accurately reflect their net gains by deducting all stakes from their overall payout amount. Licensees must also use simple English, refrain from superfluous jargon, and keep the usage of colours to a minimum (black and red) in order to clearly indicate losses. Furthermore, every month's statement must to contain message regarding the harms of gambling. 

Operators risk incurring 60 penalty units for noncompliance. Each activity declaration that is not compliant costs AU$11,539.