The number of gambling law breaches detected by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission has fallen by 88 per cent since 2014, as the gaming watchdog turns towards education over fines.
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Just 13 breaches were identified in 2017-18, the commission's latest annual report shows.
That's down from 26 in 2016-17, 70 in 2015-16 and 112 in 2014-15.
This is despite the number of inspections remaining around 250 in the same period.
The commission said an increased focus on engagement and education activities in 2017-18 had a "positive impact on the level of industry compliance, resulting in a reduction in the need to undertake enforcement action in the reporting period".
"The approach of the commission is to engage and educate through the conduct of compliance programs and when responding to enquiries or complaints. This approach supports the goal to support licensees achieve voluntary a compliance," it said.
"The ongoing decline in the number of breaches detected and the noticeable reduction in the use of formal enforcement powers is evidence of the benefit to the industry and the community of the engage and educate approach used by the commission."
Indeed, the commission ran 378 engagement activities and 130 education activities during 2017-18. In the same period, it handed out three enforcement actions.
One of those enforcement actions related to the record $120,000 fine it handed to the Raiders club in Belconnen after finding the club broke poker machine laws by failing to record signs of problem gambling in the case of Laurie Brown, who lost more than $200,000.
The club appealed and the commission later dropped the fine in exchange for a formal reprimand and the condition the club make a $60,000 donation to Lifeline.
The annual report shows the commission spent $74,000 on legal advice from the ACT Government Solicitors' Office during the appeal.
The Lanyon Valley Rugby Union & Amateur Sports Club and the Canberra Southern Cross Club Tuggeranong were also fined $5000 each for failing to ensure ATM withdrawal limits were in place.
The commission uncovered six breaches of the gambling code of practice during a blitz targeting EFTPOS cash withdrawal limits.
This included two instances of staff not undertaking required responsible service of gaming training; one instance of failing to report a problem gambling incident; one instance of failing to display adequate information in a gaming area in relation to people under 18 years old, and intoxicated people not being allowed to gamble; one instance of rules and conditions for venue promotions not being available for inspection by members; and one instance of failing to review the ACT Gambling Exclusion Database within three trading days.
The commission noted there had been a high level of compliance across the industry with the new EFTPOS cashout rules.
Another blitz uncovered two instances where gamblers excluded from a venue had been paid out winnings.
Instead of taking any compliance action, the two licensees were "assisted to comply through an education approach".
Other breaches detected over the last year include one instance of failing to comply with a licence condition; one instance of failing to display an approved gaming machine statement; one instance of failing to pay gaming machine tax within the required period; two instances of failing to lodge a gaming machine tax return within the required period; and two instances of not making the required payment to the Problem Gambling Assistance Fund within the required timeframe.
However, Clubs ACT chief executive Gwyn Rees said the report missed non-discretionary levies like the Problem Gambling Assistance Fund, and ignored that ACT gaming machine approvals piggy-backed off NSW regulations.
He also said the ACT had introduced a suite of harm minimisation measures over the last 14 years, including a ban on alfresco gaming, restrictions on 24-hour gaming and trading, and limits on note acceptors to $20 (NSW and Queensland machines can accept $50s and $100s).
"The ACT regulatory environment has also not stood still, there have been a suite of changes over many years in relation to the operation of machines in the ACT," Mr Rees said.
