News

In this edition Louise discusses: our new websites, Melbourne Football Club's commitment to phase out pokies, Victorian Population Gambling and Health Study, The Foundation’s third biennial conference, Gambling harm: Taking action for change.

We are proud to launch our new website. We’ve listened to your feedback and made much needed improvements by creating our corporate VRGF website (responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au) and Gambler’s Help website (gamblershelp.com.au).

As part of AFL Victoria's commitment to address social issues affecting the community, each of these organisations will have state wide themed rounds during the 2018 season, including our very own 'Love The Game' round in July.

In this edition Louise discusses: our prevention partnership program, grants for regional and rural Victoria, CALD prevention grants, Reclink Australia, Mallee District Aboriginal Services, Anglicare Victoria's financial literacy programs, The Foundation's normalisation awareness campaign 'The Talk', Love The Game.

Grants totalling $250,000 are available for gambling harm prevention projects in regional and rural Victoria. The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Marlene Kairouz, announced the funding today in Bendigo.

The Foundation has released new videos in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and Arabic to explain the signs of gambling harm and describe what to expect during a consultation with a Gambler’s Help or other professional counsellor.

In this edition Louise discusses: CALD prevention grants, the International Gambling Conference hosted in New Zealand, The Foundation's public awareness campaign 'Harm starts earlier than you think', Communications Legislation Amendment Bill submission, Love The Game.

Amendments to the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 passed by the Victorian Parliament late last year include changes to the amount of money accessible by EFTPOS in hotels and clubs operating pokies and the actions staff are required to take when customers wish to withdraw cash.

In December 2017, the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee commenced an inquiry on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Online Content Services and Other Measures) Bill 2017.

If you or someone you know has experienced the harm that gambling can cause, you may like to share your personal experiences as a way to help others, reduce stigma and create positive change.

Legislative amendments to commence on 17 February 2018 will ban online wagering providers, such as online bookmakers, from offering credit to Australian punters. This includes offering punters a deferred settlement facility.

On 29 January 2018, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation released figures on pokies expenditure for the six months from July to December 2017.

In this edition Louise discusses: gambling harm, prevention, early intervention, support, research program, Gambler's Help, Victorian Population Gambling and Health Study, sports betting, gambling advertising, Commonwealth legislation, prevention grants, awareness campaigns.

On 1 November 2017, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation heard an application from Kilmore Racing Club Inc to increase the number of pokies at the Bendigo Club in the City of Greater Bendigo from 44 to 60.

On 31 October and 13 November 2017, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation heard an application from Pakenham Racing Club Inc to increase the number of pokies at Club Officer, in the Shire of Cardinia, from 60 to 80.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) will determine an appeal against the recent decision by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) to refuse an application to introduce 40 pokies at the Commercial Hotel in South Morang.

Foundation research will feature heavily at the 27th annual National Association for Gambling Studies (NAGS) conference in Melbourne this week.

On 26 September 2017, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation heard an application from Portarlington Golf Club Inc to increase the number of pokies at the Portarlington Golf Club in the City of Greater Geelong from 55 to 65.

Responsible Gambling Awareness Week (23–29 October 2017) provides an opportunity during Victoria’s peak betting season and the lead-up to Spring Racing Carnival to raise awareness of gambling harm and what it means to gamble responsibly.

On 29 August 2017, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation heard an application from Zagame's Berwick Springs Hotel Pty Ltd to increase the number of pokies at the Berwick Springs Hotel in the City of Casey from 95 to 105.