Australia: betting industry warns against rushed Victoria reforms
Responsible Wagering Australia has urged the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission to delay its proposed reforms to wagering inducement rules, warning they could create confusion, duplication, and compliance burdens without improving consumer protections.
Push for national approach before state changes
Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA), which represents major online betting companies including bet365, Betfair, PointsBet, Sportsbet and Unibet, has called on the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) to hold off on introducing its own changes to the regulation of wagering promotions.
In a submission responding to the commission’s Draft Regulatory Guide on Wagering Inducements, the group said: “We recommend that the VGCCC wait for the Federal Government’s response to the Online Gambling Inquiry in order to then implement nationally consistent reforms to inducement advertising rules.”
RWA argued that a “coordinated national approach will deliver more effective consumer protections, greater regulatory clarity, and fairer industry oversight.” It warned that introducing unique state reforms now would likely mean “industry will be subject to two sets of changes in relation to advertising of inducements in Victoria within a short period, essentially doubling the regulatory burden without any corresponding consumer benefits.”
The submission took aim at what it described as “a further fragmented state-by-state approach” that would create “inconsistencies in consumer protections, unnecessary compliance burdens for WSPs, and enforcement challenges for regulators, without improving harm minimisation outcomes.”
Concerns over expanded definition of inducements
The VGCCC’s draft guide proposes widening the definition of inducements to include certain promotions available only to existing account holders. RWA said this “is a stance not supported by Victorian law, nor is it the position in other states and territories.”
The group stressed that “not all promotions should be classified as ‘inducements to open an account’,” pointing out that many — such as price specials, bet specials, and money-back offers — “are designed specifically for existing customers, much like loyalty programs in other industries, rewarding existing customers rather than attracting new ones.”
It warned that such a move “would not enhance consumer protections but instead introduce regulatory misalignment” and urged the VGCCC to “maintain consistency with other Australian jurisdictions” to ensure a framework that is “effective, enforceable, and clear.”
The industry body also recommended the commission “clearly define ‘new customer’,” aligning it with anti-money laundering ‘know your customer’ requirements, and to “clarify the definition and scope of inducements” by distinguishing between banned sign-up offers and promotions for existing customers.
Implementation timeline and audit challenges
RWA expressed particular concern about the commission’s proposed start date of 1 July 2025, arguing that “the proposed… start date allows for just six weeks for operators to implement potentially complex operational changes — a timeframe that is not viable.”
It added: “Our advice is that the current proposal is not implementable in its current form due to technical and operational gaps… initial estimates suggest a minimum 12-month transition period to accommodate necessary system upgrades, process adjustments, compliance training, and coordination with external partners.”
The group also pushed back against immediate audit requirements, stating: “Until this is addressed, it is premature to consider audit requirements. Instead, a second round of consultation would be beneficial to refine the framework.”
RWA said that within the same 12-month period, “it is highly likely that a national framework… will take shape, providing a more consistent and effective regulatory approach” and warned that moving ahead now “risks introducing unnecessary uncertainty, regulatory duplication, and potential misalignment — all of which may require further revisions once national reforms are introduced.”
Call for collaboration
Kai Cantwell, RWA’s chief executive, concluded the submission by stating: “We would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with the VGCCC to refine these guidelines and provide further input based on industry expertise and operational experience.”
He emphasised that “by aligning with broader national reforms, the VGCCC can avoid the need for future amendments and ensure Victoria’s regulations are part of a unified and well-structured policy response.”
