By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
Liquor & Gaming NSW have cancelled the licence of a Sydney gaming technician and banned him from holding another gaming licence for 10 years, after he failed to disclose previous criminal convictions.
Mr Lyons, gaming technician and owner of Poker Machine Distributors (Australia) Pty Ltd, was the subject of a compliance audit when it was revealed that he had previous offences in corporations law in regards to the closing down of his company. Civil judgments were also made against him for failing to pay debts linked to his business.
Under Section 125 of the Gaming Machines Act 2001, gaming-related licensees must notify Liquor & Gaming NSW of changes in their state of affairs, including their involvement in any court proceedings.
During the audit, not only were Mr Lyons' previous convictions discovered, but he did not respond to two notices requesting information. A complaint was lodged with the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), who disqualified Lyons’ licence and also issued him an order to pay $1349 in costs incurred by the investigation.
In its decision, ILGA suggested that the ban and fine would be a warning to other technicians to cooperate fully with the gaming authorities.
“The Authority is satisfied that this 10-year period of disqualification will also send an appropriate message to others in the industry of the regulatory consequences of engaging in the [sic] kind of conduct.”