VGCCC outlines gambling strategy with AI and predictive analysis tools

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) is preparing to place greater emphasis on artificial intelligence, data and predictive analysis as it develops its approach to gambling regulation under its new three-year Strategy 2029. The plan is intended to strengthen the regulator’s ability to identify emerging risks earlier as gambling products, technologies and consumer engagement methods continue to evolve.

The strategy reflects a broader shift towards intelligence-led regulation. According to the VGCCC, developments in online products, promotional activity and payment technology have made gambling more accessible while also creating a more complex regulatory environment. Activity can increasingly take place across multiple channels, making it more difficult for regulators to assess risks using traditional approaches alone.

The VGCCC is therefore looking to combine technology with research, intelligence and regulatory expertise. The objective is not simply to collect more information but to use available data more effectively when identifying potential risks and determining where regulatory attention may be required.

Technology becomes central to gambling oversight

Technology is expected to play a significant role in the VGCCC’s regulatory plans. The commission intends to make greater use of artificial intelligence, advanced data capabilities and predictive analysis to support earlier identification of gambling-related risks.

VGCCC chief executive Suzy Neilan has highlighted the changing technological environment in which gambling businesses operate. As companies develop increasingly sophisticated ways to attract and retain customers, regulators also need tools capable of assessing emerging patterns and identifying areas that may require closer scrutiny.

The strategy places technology alongside research and intelligence rather than treating it as a standalone solution. This approach is significant because regulatory decisions can require consideration of broader commercial, social and operational circumstances.

The VGCCC’s stated objective is to strengthen its ability to anticipate developments rather than relying solely on intervention after a risk has already become apparent. This could allow regulatory resources to be directed more efficiently towards areas where evidence indicates a greater need for oversight.

Data and predictive analysis to support earlier action

A central element of Strategy 2029 is the planned use of data and predictive analysis to improve risk identification. The regulator expects better data capabilities to help it understand developments across the gambling sector and identify potential concerns at an earlier stage.

The approach also recognises that gambling behaviour does not necessarily occur through a single channel. Consumers may interact with different products, platforms and payment methods, creating a more complicated picture for regulators seeking to understand patterns of activity.

Improved data analysis could provide the VGCCC with a broader view of these developments. Predictive tools may then help identify patterns that warrant further assessment, allowing the commission to consider appropriate regulatory responses before risks become more established.

However, the strategy does not suggest that technology will replace regulatory judgment. Instead, the planned systems are intended to provide additional intelligence that can support decision-making, research and targeted intervention.

Expected benefits from technology investment

The VGCCC expects the benefits of investments in technology, artificial intelligence, systems and data to become more visible during the 2027-28 financial year. These investments are expected to contribute to several regulatory objectives, including gambling harm minimisation, preventing criminal influence and reducing unnecessary regulatory red tape.

The commission expects further improvements by 2028-29 as data collection and predictive analysis capabilities develop. Better information could help the regulator identify risks sooner and improve the way harm minimisation measures are targeted.

This staged approach suggests that the VGCCC views technology investment as a long-term regulatory capability rather than a short-term project. Building effective data infrastructure, developing appropriate analytical systems and establishing suitable processes for using the resulting intelligence are likely to require sustained implementation.

The expected reduction in regulatory red tape is also notable. Modernising systems could allow some regulatory processes to become more efficient while enabling the commission to focus its resources on higher-priority risks.

New gambling products create additional challenges

The development of online gambling products has changed the way consumers can access gambling services. Promotions, digital platforms and payment options can make participation more convenient, while the growing number of channels can make regulatory monitoring more complicated.

The VGCCC has identified this changing environment as an important reason for adapting its regulatory approach. As gambling businesses introduce new products and engagement methods, regulators need to understand how those developments may affect consumers and the wider community.

Data and identity technologies could provide part of that capability. Better information about activity and customer interactions may assist regulatory monitoring and risk assessment.

At the same time, the increased use of data introduces its own challenges. Cybersecurity, privacy and responsible handling of personal information become particularly important when regulatory systems depend on large quantities of sensitive or commercially significant data.

The VGCCC’s strategy therefore places technological opportunity alongside the risks that technology can create. Building stronger analytical capabilities will need to be accompanied by appropriate safeguards and responsible data management.

Focus on targeted harm minimisation

Gambling harm minimisation remains a central element of the strategy. The VGCCC has consistently identified the reduction of gambling-related harm as a core part of its regulatory responsibilities.

Strategy 2029 is intended to support a more targeted approach by directing regulatory resources towards communities and demographic groups experiencing higher levels of gambling harm. This represents a move away from treating every part of the market in exactly the same way.

A data-led approach could help the regulator better understand where risks are concentrated. Research and intelligence can then be used alongside technological tools to inform decisions about where additional attention or intervention may be appropriate.

The strategy does not indicate that every individual or gambling business will be treated as presenting the same level of risk. Instead, the planned approach is designed to make regulatory activity more proportionate to the evidence available to the commission.

Cooperation remains part of the strategy

Technology is only one component of the VGCCC’s broader regulatory approach. The commission is also continuing to strengthen cooperation with other regulatory authorities and relevant stakeholders.

Information sharing and collaboration can be important when gambling activity crosses organisational or jurisdictional boundaries. Emerging risks may not fit neatly within the responsibilities of a single regulator, particularly where technology, payments, identity systems and online services are involved.

The VGCCC’s emphasis on intelligence and cooperation therefore complements its planned investment in data and predictive capabilities. Better information can be more useful when it can be assessed alongside expertise from other relevant authorities and stakeholders.

The commission also intends to use research and intelligence when determining how its regulatory resources should be deployed. This could support a more evidence-based allocation of staff, investigative resources and other regulatory capabilities.

Adapting to a changing gambling environment

One of the broader themes of Strategy 2029 is the need for regulatory methods to evolve alongside the gambling sector. Technology used by gambling businesses can change quickly and regulatory frameworks need to remain capable of addressing new forms of activity.

The VGCCC has indicated that it will continue adjusting its methods as products and technologies develop. This means the strategy should be viewed as a framework for ongoing regulatory development rather than a fixed response to the market as it currently exists.

Such flexibility may become increasingly important as digital gambling services, payment technologies and data-driven customer engagement continue to develop. The regulatory challenge is to maintain effective oversight without creating unnecessary barriers to legitimate activity.

The VGCCC's statutory responsibilities already include licensing, supervision and control of gambling businesses and casinos while seeking to minimise gambling-related harm and prevent criminal influence. Its technology-focused strategy is intended to strengthen those responsibilities rather than change their fundamental purpose.

A more intelligence-led regulatory model

The direction outlined by the VGCCC represents a significant emphasis on intelligence-led gambling regulation. Artificial intelligence and predictive analysis can potentially help identify patterns that would be difficult to detect through manual processes alone, while improved data systems can give regulators a more comprehensive view of market activity.

The effectiveness of this approach will depend on how the technology is implemented and how its outputs are incorporated into regulatory decisions. Predictive systems can identify patterns but still require appropriate oversight, interpretation and governance.

For the gambling industry, the strategy also signals that technology and data are likely to become increasingly important elements of regulatory compliance. Operators and other gambling businesses may need to consider how their own systems interact with emerging expectations around data, identity, responsible gambling and risk management.

The VGCCC’s approach also underlines the importance of maintaining appropriate protections around personal and commercially sensitive information. As regulatory systems become more sophisticated, confidence in the security and responsible use of data will remain essential.

What Strategy 2029 means for gambling regulation

Strategy 2029 provides the VGCCC with a framework for responding to a gambling environment that is becoming more digital, interconnected and data-intensive. Its focus on artificial intelligence, predictive analysis, research and intelligence is designed to help the regulator move towards earlier identification of potential risks.

The expected benefits extend beyond technological capability. The commission links its investments with harm minimisation, prevention of criminal influence and more efficient regulatory processes. It also intends to concentrate resources where evidence indicates that communities or demographic groups face greater gambling-related risks.

The strategy therefore combines technological development with a broader regulatory objective: improving the ability of the commission to understand risks and respond appropriately as circumstances change.

Conclusion

The VGCCC’s Strategy 2029 signals a continued evolution in how gambling regulation may be carried out in Victoria. Rather than relying exclusively on established monitoring methods, the regulator plans to strengthen its use of artificial intelligence, data, research and predictive analysis to support earlier and more targeted regulatory action.

The planned investments are particularly relevant as gambling products, promotions and payment technologies become increasingly digital. Greater access can create additional regulatory complexity, while data-driven tools may provide regulators with new ways to understand activity across different channels.

At the same time, the strategy recognises that technology brings responsibilities of its own. Cybersecurity, privacy and appropriate data governance will remain important considerations as the VGCCC develops its systems and analytical capabilities.

The most important measure of Strategy 2029 will ultimately be how effectively these capabilities translate into practical regulatory outcomes. If implemented appropriately, the approach could give the VGCCC stronger intelligence for allocating resources, identifying emerging risks and supporting harm minimisation while reducing avoidable administrative burdens.

For Victoria’s gambling sector, the message is clear: regulatory oversight is becoming increasingly intelligence-led and technology-enabled. As the commission advances its three-year strategy, gambling businesses may need to pay closer attention not only to existing legal obligations but also to the evolving expectations surrounding data, risk management and responsible gambling.

FAQs

What is the VGCCC?
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission is Victoria’s independent regulator for the gambling industry. Its responsibilities include licensing, supervision and regulatory oversight across relevant gambling activities in the state.

What is Strategy 2029?
Strategy 2029 is the VGCCC’s three-year strategic framework for responding to developments in gambling regulation, technology, data and emerging risks.

How will AI support the VGCCC?
AI is expected to support the analysis of information and help the regulator identify potential gambling-related risks at an earlier stage.

Why is predictive analysis important for gambling regulation?
Predictive analysis can help regulators examine patterns in available information and identify areas that may require closer assessment before risks become more established.

When does the VGCCC expect to see benefits from its technology investments?
The VGCCC expects benefits from earlier investments in technology, AI, systems and data to begin becoming evident during the 2027-28 financial year.

What role will data play in the strategy?
Data is expected to support risk identification, research, regulatory intelligence and more targeted allocation of regulatory resources.

Will technology replace human regulatory decisions?
The strategy is focused on using technology as an additional regulatory capability. Data and analytical tools can support decision-making but do not remove the need for regulatory judgment and appropriate oversight.

Why does the VGCCC consider new gambling products a regulatory challenge?
Online products, promotions and payment options can expand access to gambling and create activity across multiple channels. This can make monitoring and risk assessment more complex.

What risks can increased use of data create?
Greater reliance on data can introduce cybersecurity, privacy and data-management risks. These issues need to be addressed as regulatory systems become more advanced.

Will harm minimisation remain a priority for the VGCCC?
Yes. Minimising gambling-related harm remains a central part of the VGCCC’s regulatory responsibilities and is a key consideration within its technology and data strategy.