Case stages: real cases of violations of age restrictions
Introduction
In Australia, Interactive Gambling Act 2001 strictly prohibits accepting bets from people under the age of 18. For violation of this rule, the federal regulator ACMA and regional commissions (in particular the VGCCC in Victoria) have the right to investigate, impose administrative fines and even initiate criminal prosecution.
Case 1. 16-year-old Tabcorp pub player (Victoria)
The essence of the violation: a 16-year-old teenager from May 2022 to October 2023, using unreliably controlled terminals, made more than 30 bets worth almost 100,000 AUD.
Regulator response: The VGCCC, through the courts, required Tabcorp to stop accepting cash in non-owned areas of pubs and clubs unless underage access is controlled by staff.
Consequences for the operator:
Case 2. Correct Bet Pty Ltd fine (Coburg TAB)
Fact of violation: Coburg TAB operator in November 2023 accepted rates from a minor client without correct verification of documents.
Court decision: February 13, 2024 Magistrate Hodgson imposed a fine of 3,000 AUD on Correct Bet and ordered to reimburse legal costs in the amount of 5,500 AUD.
Conclusions of the regulator: VGCCC noted that the measures taken after the incident (personnel training, enhanced control during registration) met the requirements, therefore, a moderate sanction was chosen against the operator.
Case 3. Massive VGCCC operation: 14 cases against 10 operators
Scope of investigation: In a months-long review of legislative violations, the VGCCC team gathered evidence of 14 episodes of minors being admitted to betting on different platforms.
Legal actions: in February 2025, 14 indictments were filed against 10 legal entities, the total fines exceeded 500,000 AUD.
Key measures:
Conclusions and lessons
1. Reliable age verification is not a formality: a simple form of date of birth without verification of documents is easy and leads to serious sanctions.
2. Role of staff and training: The Coburg TAB and Tabcorp cases showed that without regular employee training and CCTV monitoring, control was not possible.
3. Significance of large-scale investigations: The VGCCC case series demonstrates that systemic checks and harsh penalties create a deterrent effect for the entire industry.
Recommendations for operators
Integrate certified eID solutions (AusID, Equifax) with tokenization of verification results.
Conduct monthly manual audits of at least 5% of new registrations.
Publish in the public domain reports on inspections and identified attempts to bypass age barriers.
Meeting the minimum age of 18 is a cornerstone of online gambling regulation in Australia. Real cases show that regulators are ready to act decisively: from imposing thousands of fines to criminal cases. Timely and reliable verification, supported by staff training and technical control, avoids serious consequences and strengthens confidence in the legal market.
In Australia, Interactive Gambling Act 2001 strictly prohibits accepting bets from people under the age of 18. For violation of this rule, the federal regulator ACMA and regional commissions (in particular the VGCCC in Victoria) have the right to investigate, impose administrative fines and even initiate criminal prosecution.
Case 1. 16-year-old Tabcorp pub player (Victoria)
The essence of the violation: a 16-year-old teenager from May 2022 to October 2023, using unreliably controlled terminals, made more than 30 bets worth almost 100,000 AUD.
Regulator response: The VGCCC, through the courts, required Tabcorp to stop accepting cash in non-owned areas of pubs and clubs unless underage access is controlled by staff.
Consequences for the operator:
- Suspension of the ability to accept cash in unverified zones.
- Launch of mandatory personnel training program and installation of CCTV monitoring in problem points.
Case 2. Correct Bet Pty Ltd fine (Coburg TAB)
Fact of violation: Coburg TAB operator in November 2023 accepted rates from a minor client without correct verification of documents.
Court decision: February 13, 2024 Magistrate Hodgson imposed a fine of 3,000 AUD on Correct Bet and ordered to reimburse legal costs in the amount of 5,500 AUD.
Conclusions of the regulator: VGCCC noted that the measures taken after the incident (personnel training, enhanced control during registration) met the requirements, therefore, a moderate sanction was chosen against the operator.
Case 3. Massive VGCCC operation: 14 cases against 10 operators
Scope of investigation: In a months-long review of legislative violations, the VGCCC team gathered evidence of 14 episodes of minors being admitted to betting on different platforms.
Legal actions: in February 2025, 14 indictments were filed against 10 legal entities, the total fines exceeded 500,000 AUD.
Key measures:
- A strict requirement for the introduction of multi-stage KYC and age verification through third-party eID services.
- Public disclosure of the list of accused and transfer of materials to the police for possible criminal prosecution.
Conclusions and lessons
1. Reliable age verification is not a formality: a simple form of date of birth without verification of documents is easy and leads to serious sanctions.
2. Role of staff and training: The Coburg TAB and Tabcorp cases showed that without regular employee training and CCTV monitoring, control was not possible.
3. Significance of large-scale investigations: The VGCCC case series demonstrates that systemic checks and harsh penalties create a deterrent effect for the entire industry.
Recommendations for operators
Integrate certified eID solutions (AusID, Equifax) with tokenization of verification results.
Conduct monthly manual audits of at least 5% of new registrations.
Publish in the public domain reports on inspections and identified attempts to bypass age barriers.
Meeting the minimum age of 18 is a cornerstone of online gambling regulation in Australia. Real cases show that regulators are ready to act decisively: from imposing thousands of fines to criminal cases. Timely and reliable verification, supported by staff training and technical control, avoids serious consequences and strengthens confidence in the legal market.
