Victoria Introduces Updated Minor Betting Rules

The gambling regulator for Victoria has banned wagering on all under-19 sporting competitions as part of its ongoing campaign to protect the integrity of the southern Australian state’s sports scene. 

The move from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) publicised last week also includes a prohibition against betting on the performance of individual players under the age of 18 engaged in junior and senior sports with online betting sites.

Careful Consideration 

This latter measure means that bookmakers may continue to accept wagers on a ‘team’ competing in an open event but not on specific outcomes involving players under the age of 18 such as the number of goals they may score in a game of football or basketball. 

Fran Thorn serves as the Chair for the VGCCC and she expressed concern that younger players may be more susceptible to unscrupulous individuals seeking to undermine the integrity of sports.

She additionally stated that betting among those under the age of 18 could become normalised should the state of approximately 6.7 million people continued to allow wagering on the sporting performance of minors. 

“The idea that it is okay to bet on minors just doesn’t stand up,” Thorn said. “We think minors deserve to be protected. It also raises integrity issues, with the prospect of people attempting to influence how minors might behave playing sport.” 

Stern Schedule 

The VGCCC declared that approved sporting organizations now have 60 days to amend any existing arrangements with betting operators in order to reflect the new prohibitions, which additionally cover sports not governed by officially endorsed authorities. 

“If sports controlling bodies and betting providers do not comply with this decision we will take action, which may include revoking our approval of sports controlling bodies and prosecuting betting providers,” Thorn said. 

Pervasive Push

In common with many other Australian jurisdictions, Victoria has recently been endeavouring to strengthen its relations with the betting industry across several areas including the protection of players and the minimisation of gambling harms. 

February saw the administration of Premier Daniel Andrews release a range of safer gambling measures touted as ‘the strongest’ in the nation and subsequently rolled out statewide including within the giant Crown Melbourne casino property. 

However, the VGCCC is moreover keen on preserving the integrity of local sports and sent letters to a range of governing bodies in February so as to remind these of their honesty commitments. 

The regulator concurrently requested information on whether these bodies had in any way begun restricting betting markets on events featuring minors.

“It will, therefore, be prohibited to offer bets on an outcome such as ‘first goal of the game’, ‘most disposals’ or ‘first player to take a wicket’ where the outcome relates to an individual player that is a minor,” Thorn said. “For the avoidance of doubt, bets will still be able to be offered on the open team performance.”