Victoria’s gambling regulator has outlined an ambitious agenda for 2025–26 aimed at protecting the public, curbing criminal exploitation, and building trust in the state’s casinos and gaming industry.
Australia’s Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), now in its fourth year as a standalone regulator, said its new Annual Plan focuses on harm prevention, industry accountability, and modernized regulatory tools.
“This year’s plan reflects our ambition to be bold, intelligence-led, data-driven, and deeply connected to the communities we serve,” VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan said in an announcement.
“We’re evolving how we regulate, using smarter tools, stronger partnerships, and a sharper focus on harm minimization to protect Victorians.”
The regulator said its priorities include early detection of risky gambling behavior, protecting minors and excluded individuals, and ensuring responsible advertising. It will also work closely with law enforcement to prevent money laundering and other criminal activity.
The plan aligns with the Victorian Minister’s Statement of Expectations, which calls for regulation that listens to lived experience, supports innovation, and prioritizes community safety.
Key initiatives for 2025–26 include a five-year public awareness campaign on gambling harm, technology upgrades to improve regulatory efficiency, and support for mandatory carded play and pre-commitment reforms designed to help gamblers stay in control.
“We’re not just regulating, we’re modernizing how regulation is done,” Neilan said, adding that the approach will be proactive, transparent, and focused on long-term benefits for the community.
The VGCCC said it will modernize digital infrastructure, enhance intelligence-led regulation, and strengthen harm reduction through education, engagement, and enforcement.
The commission said its plan signals a firm commitment to making gambling safer for all Victorians, whether they participate in gambling, work in the industry, or are indirectly affected.
