About us
The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation is a statutory authority created by the Victorian Parliament to address the challenge of gambling harm in the Victorian community.
We work with partners and communities to inform people about the risks of gambling, and to provide support to those who need it, including people affected by someone else’s gambling.
Reducing harm
We fund and work closely with organisations across Victoria to provide free and confidential Gambler’s Help services to people experiencing harm from their own or someone else’s gambling.
We take a public health approach to our work, which means we focus on prevention, early intervention and support for those who are particularly vulnerable to gambling harm as well as those living in regional and rural communities.
For professionals
Our professional development centre offers learning and development opportunities for Gambler's Help staff and professionals in related sectors. We provide information and resources to help health and welfare professionals identify people experiencing harm from their own, or a significant other's, gambling and more effectively respond to their needs.
Research
The main aim of our research program is to build our understanding of gambling harm. Each year the Foundation identifies new areas of gambling to research and in addition to awarding research grants, we commission major research projects so that we can learn more about how gambling affects our community.
Resources
We provide information to community groups, local government and the public about gambling and its regulation in Victoria.
We also support Victorians to participate in regulatory and other processes relating to gambling, including licensing and planning processes associated with electronic gaming machines.

Francis Hotel Pty Ltd v Melbourne City Council

12 December 2012

Facts

The Francis Hotel Pty Ltd applied for a license and planning permit for 32 electronic gaming machines (EGMs) for the Francis Hotel located on Lonsdale Street in Melbourne CBD.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation approved the license application but the Melbourne City Council refused the planning permit.
The Francis Hotel applied for review by the tribunal of the council's refusal and the council applied to the tribunal for review of the commission's approval.

Decision

The tribunal set aside the commission's decision to approve the Francis Hotel as a gaming venue and affirmed the council's decision to refuse a planning permit.
The tribunal found that in addition to being contrary to local planning policy, approval of the gaming license would add risk to problem gamblers and have a negative impact on social well being.

Relevant Documents

VCAT decision – Francis Hotel Pty Ltd v Melbourne City Council
Francis Hotel commission decision 25 January 2012

See our infographic on the Melbourne City Council and compare its pokies statistics with other councils across Victoria.

Topics

Was this content helpful to you?

Yes
No

Feedback

Email (optional) Include your email address if you would like a reply

Thanks for your feedback!