Gambling

This bill overhauls Queensland's casino and gambling regulation following major integrity failures found at casinos in other states. It introduces stronger enforcement powers for casino operators including fines up to $50 million, enables cashless gambling across all forms of gambling, creates a new simulated events wagering product, and simplifies fundraising rules for national charities.

This bill makes changes across several unrelated areas of Queensland law. It clarifies sexual consent provisions in the Criminal Code following a Queensland Law Reform Commission review, bans online wagering sign-up inducements, strengthens alcohol-fuelled violence measures including longer police banning notices and tighter ID scanning, and ensures victims of solicitor dishonesty receive full compensation from the Legal Practitioners' Fidelity Guarantee Fund.

This bill overhauls Queensland's casino regulation following the Gotterson Review, which found money laundering, links to organised crime, and inadequate harm minimisation at Star Entertainment's Queensland casinos. It introduces mandatory identity-linked player cards, cashless gambling limits, binding pre-commitment systems for loss and time limits, a new supervision levy on casinos, five-yearly reviews of casino operations, and requirements to exclude people banned from interstate casinos.

This bill overhauls how stewards' decisions are challenged in Queensland's racing industry. It creates a new independent Racing Appeals Panel to replace the current system of internal reviews and lengthy QCAT hearings, ensuring disputes are resolved in days rather than months. The bill also introduces online publication of stewards' reports and substance test results to improve transparency.

This bill made temporary amendments to over 20 Queensland Acts as the state's third legislative response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It addressed issues that could not be dealt with under the existing COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 modification framework, providing financial relief for workers, property owners and businesses, strengthening public health and emergency powers, and enabling corrections, disability and mental health services to operate safely during the emergency. Most provisions expired on 31 December 2020.

This bill extended most of Queensland's temporary COVID-19 emergency laws until 30 April 2022, continuing the legal basis for public health directions, quarantine requirements, and support measures across multiple sectors. It also reformed the quarantine fee system to allow prepayment and third-party liability, and clarified that quarantine directions could be issued electronically.

This bill introduces a 15% point-of-consumption betting tax on the net wagering revenue that betting operators earn from customers located in Queensland. It replaces the old wagering tax (which was based on where the operator was located) and brings Queensland into line with similar taxes in South Australia and Victoria.

This bill increases Queensland's betting tax from 15 to 20 per cent by adding a 5 per cent racing levy, and directs 80 per cent of that revenue to Racing Queensland to fund the racing industry. It also makes administrative changes to support the new mental health levy on large employers.

This bill extends Queensland's temporary COVID-19 emergency legislation to 30 September 2021, gives local governments flexibility to adjust rates mid-year, creates a framework for holding COVID-safe local government by-elections and fresh elections, and extends temporary remote meeting arrangements for councils.