Western Australia Tightens Gaming Laws in Effort to Modernize Regulation  

Western Australia has moved to tighten its gaming regulations, introducing harsher penalties for violators. The reform seeks to enforce rules that serve as deterrents, preventing entities from committing breaches.

Western Australia Modernizes Regulation

The Cook Government announced that it has bolstered enforcement powers and penalties in an attempt to keep gambling operators in check and prevent regulatory violations. The Western Australian law reforms have passed Parliament and are in line with the state’s effort to modernize its oversight of the industry.

The reforms come in response to findings and recommendations from the Perth Casino Royal Commission, which urged the government to align the gambling rules with the modern age.

According to the announcement, the legislative changes include significant increases for certain instances of non-compliance with Western Australia’s regulatory framework and the rules outlined by the Gaming and Wagering Commission.

The announcement added that racing and gaming minister Paul Papalia has previously been given extra powers to steer the GWC, in response to the Perth Casino Royal Commission’s recommendations.

The government argued that the changes would make it easier for policies agreed to by the Commonwealth to be incorporated into Western Australian law. These include policies such as the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Gambling and the National Policy on Match-Fixing in Sport.

The GWC Praised the Changes

Minister Papalia commented on the matter, saying:

The law reform is designed to significantly expand the regulator’s compliance and enforcement powers and increase the penalties to ensure they are an effective deterrent to non-compliance.

Pau Papalia

He added that addressing the Royal Commission recommendations will not be a speedy process. However, he noted that Western Australia is already making steady progress in establishing a modern regulatory framework for gambling as a whole.

In the meantime, Gary Dreibergs, chair of the GWC, said that his team welcomes the reforms and that the changes will greatly help the regulator uphold the law and crack down on illicit gaming activity.

The substantial increase in penalties will act as a more effective deterrent and a more appropriate punishment for law breakers who may regard current lower penalties as an acceptable risk when they consider the profits that can be made from subverting the laws.

Gary Dreibergs, chair, GWC

Dreibergs added that the extra powers will allow the GWC to carry out more effective investigations and eliminate crime.