Keno Vic Hit with AU$75K Fine Over Self-Exclusion Lapse
2026-07-27
Source: Global Gaming Insider
Keno Vic has been fined AU$75,000 by the VGCCC after a self-excluded player created a second account, bypassed verification, and gambled; the operator was held responsible despite the customer's attempted circumvention.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has imposed a AU$75,000 penalty on Keno Vic after a self-excluded player managed to open a second account and place bets. The incident occurred when a customer who had voluntarily excluded from Keno Vic’s offerings in April 2024 successfully registered a new online account six months later. During the sign-up process, the individual failed an automated identity check and was placed in a restricted play period — yet was still able to deposit funds and gamble while human verification remained incomplete.
The breach only came to light when the customer contacted Keno Vic to complete manual verification and submitted their real name to claim winnings. The system then detected a duplicate name, confirming the person had an active self-exclusion order. Victoria’s gambling regulations forbid any player from holding more than one account with the same operator.
VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan stated that Keno Vic’s systems “failed to adequately recognise the similarity between the customer’s details” and “flag the individual before gambling took place.” While the regulator acknowledged that the customer had deliberately tried to bypass verification controls, it stressed that the ultimate duty lies with the operator to maintain robust checks that can identify self-excluded individuals and bar them from gambling during restricted-play periods.
In setting the fine, the Commission accounted for both the seriousness of the infraction and mitigating factors, including Keno Vic’s prior clean compliance record, its cooperation throughout the investigation, and the remedial steps it has since taken. The VGCCC emphasised that effective self-exclusion mechanisms are a critical tool in preventing gambling harm, enabling customers to temporarily or permanently restrict their access to gambling products.