The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) has been issued a fine of $177,500 for charges that include allowing a minor to gamble and a minor to be within a poker machine area, and failing to ensure reasonable supervision of electronic betting terminals at all times.
ALH pleaded guilty to 24 charges issued by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), including allowing a teenager to gamble on multiple occasions between September 2022 and October 2022 at five of its venues, for which it was fined $175,000.
The five venues were the Albion Charles Hotel, Cramers Hotel, Doncaster Hotel, Excelsior Hotel and the Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel.
Additionally, an eight-year-old child was allowed to enter the poker machine area at the Westside Taverner while in the company of an adult in August 2023, despite minors not being permitted to enter gambling areas in Victoria. It is, however, confirmed that venue staff asked the child and accompanying adult to leave and reported the incident to the VGCCC, resulting in a fine of $2,500.
A spokesperson for Endeavour Group commented: “ALH takes its responsibility obligations very seriously and regrets that it failed to ensure reasonable supervision of the Tabcorp electronic betting terminals and electronic gaming machines at the small number of its venues where these offences took place.
“Endeavour Group and ALH continue to work constructively and collaboratively with the VGCCC on addressing the risk of harm from gaming services.”
In addition to the total of $175,000 in fines, ALH was ordered to pay the VGCCC $45,000 in costs, with VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM welcoming the Magistrate’s decision.
“It is well established that minors who gamble are more likely to experience severe harm from gambling as adults. All venues therefore have a legal and social obligation to protect children from that risk. We have zero tolerance for operators that flout the law, especially when children are involved,” Kimmitt stated.
“While I commend the staff at Westside Taverner for intervening when they became aware there was a minor in the poker machine area, it is never acceptable for a child to gain access to a venue’s gambling area.”
The prosecution was part of a wider crackdown by the VGCCC against venues and Tabcorp for allowing a minor to gamble, including the following licensees which were previously fined:
- Preston Hotel – $25,300 Parkview Hotel – $5,220
- The Brunswick Club – $8,720
- The Olympic Hotel – $8,820
- Northcote TAB Agency in Northcote – $9,960
- Edwardes Lakes Hotel in Reservoir – $9,900
- Tabcorp – $370,417