Betting on minor sports events is now forbidden by the VGCCC regulations
In Victoria, strict new rules have been implemented to prevent underage gambling in sports betting, with a focus on protecting minors. Fran Thorn, Chair of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), emphasized that betting on minors does not stand up and that minors deserve protection.
The legal age for any gambling activities, including pokies, lottery, TAB, casinos, and online betting platforms, is 18 years old. Compliance with these new rules is immediate and requires adherence to enhanced regulatory oversight and practices to prevent access by minors.
The VGCCC governs compliance, and sports organizations and betting providers must register appropriately and follow VGCCC requirements. This may include applying for permits for certain fundraising or gaming activities and ensuring no access to gambling by minors.
New measures such as mandatory 'carded play' trials on poker machines in specific venues indicate a push toward stricter age verification methods, expected to be expanded as part of regulatory reforms. The VGCCC has also strengthened protections around gambling accounts and requires betting venues and online platforms to use electronic monitoring systems for transactions to enhance control and transparency.
While no explicit fixed timeline for all new betting-related regulations targeting minors was detailed, recent announcements from mid-2025 show that regulatory changes are actively rolling out, with immediate compliance expected from service providers and organizations.
The VGCCC has expressed concern about permitting betting on minors in a letter sent to all regulatory bodies and sports betting providers. The authorities have 60 days to agree upon new rules and start complying with them. The commission is particularly concerned about minors being more prone to influence and the potential undermining of the integrity of sporting events.
Gamblers are prohibited from placing bets on individual players under 18 in both junior and senior sports. In open sports events where minors are playing, bets can be placed on the whole team but not on specific minor players and their outcomes. Minors who have not turned 19 are also banned from placing bets on sports events.
The VGCCC has reminded the authorities of their duties in maintaining the sport's integrity and asked for information about the minor gambling situation in the sports betting industry. Sporting organizations, both regulated and independent, are required to revise their deals with operators to ensure betting on minors is prohibited.
The commission sent a letter to all interested parties, stating that betting on individual minors' performances in sporting events is contrary to public interest. The VGCCC regulates all gambling activities in Victoria, and these new measures are a part of their ongoing efforts to protect minors and maintain the integrity of sporting events.
- The legal age for gambling activities like poker, sports betting, and casino games is 18 years old, and all service providers must comply with these new rules to prevent underage gambling.
- To enhance regulatory oversight, the VGCCC has implemented new measures such as mandatory 'carded play' trials on poker machines and electronic monitoring systems for transactions.
- Gamblers are not allowed to place bets on individual players under 18 in both junior and senior sports, and minors themselves are also prohibited from placing bets on sports events.
