The VGCCC has reminded operators of their duty of care to customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Australia.- The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC)<\/strong> has issued a statement warning the gambling industry in Victoria of the responsibility to minimise gambling harm<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement, published on Thursday (June 22) states that “gambling harm is preventable, and minimising harm will be a guiding principle for all regulatory decisions and actions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chairperson Fran Thorn<\/strong> said the statement represents a ‘line in the sand’: “We are committed to holding gambling operators to account against their social licence, not just their regulatory obligations. The link between gambling and harm is established, just like the link between smoking and cancer is established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are making our views on gambling harm crystal clear to the industry and the wider community. Without qualification, gambling causes harm to people who participate, as well as their family, friends, colleagues and the community in which they live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGambling operators have a duty to care and act to prevent causing harm to their customers and the broader community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The VGCCC is deliberately breaking away from the traditional narrative of the past 30 years, which has marginalised harm by only referring to it in the context of something conveniently labelled ‘problem gambling’, or linking it to customers\u2019 failure to gamble \u2018responsibly\u2019.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement cautions that gambling markets tend to gravitate towards offerings that can be harmful<\/strong>, and lawful status does not negate their potential for harm. It says failure to fulfil their duty of care may invite scrutiny and raise questions about a provider’s compliance with legal obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n