Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
Abbreviated as VCGLR, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation is an independent statutory authority charged with the responsibility of regulating the industries of gambling and liquor in Victoria, Australia. The authority deals with gaming and liquor licensing, education and compliance. In addition, it also aims at minimizing any kind of harm that the liquor and gambling industries can have on both the individuals and community at large. The authority started operating on 6 Feb 2012 and it replaced the functions previously undertaken by Victoria Commission for Gambling Regulation, Director of Liquor Licensing and Liquor Licensing Panel.
The law empowers Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation to take disciplinary actions on issues to do with liquor, a role that was previously undertaken by Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal. Besides this, VCGLR has also assumed both the educative and administrative functions that were handled by Responsible Alcohol Victoria. A number of Acts of Parliament sets the statutory obligations and this includes regulation of liquor industry as per the stipulations of Liquor Control Reform Act of 1998. It also regulates all kinds of legalized gambling according to the 2003 Gambling Regulation Act, 1991 Casino Control Act and the 1993 Casino Management Agreement Act.
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation commissioners are charged with responsibility of making decisions and governance of the industry. The law requires these commissioners to make decisions collectively with the other commissioners or individually on various matters related to the variation, transfer and grant of liquor and gambling permits and licenses, conditions attached to the permits and licenses, disciplinary actions against permittees and licensees and also decisions that are made under individual commissions delegation or the members of staff.
Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation has an organization structure that offers support for flexible processes and responsive business systems to respond to changing needs of industries and commission. Generally, the authority has six primary functional divisions and each report to Chief Executive Officer. These include licensing, strategy and planning, compliance, finance and business services, legal services and people and culture. Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation has its official physical address on 49 Elizabeth Street in North Richmond.
The most primary function of Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation is licensing of liquor and gambling enterprises in Victoria. Before anyone is allowed to operate his business in the area, he is required to send an application to the authority for licensing after review of their entity. After the license is issued, Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation ensures that the liquor or gambling entity complies with set regulations. Failure to do this, the authority is empowered to take disciplinary actions against businesses violating the regulations set. Ideally, Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation aims bring sanity in the gambling and liquor industries and most importantly, it aims to ensure that every stakeholder in this industry operates within the limits of the law and ensures that the community is protected.
