The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court has ordered Australian gambling group Tabcorp to pay an AU$370,417 ($246,097) fine after the company pleaded guilty to 43 charges related to failing to prevent a minor from gambling at multiple venues across Victoria.
The charges, brought by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) in May 2023, stem from an incident where a 17-year-old was found to have gambled at various Tabcorp-operated venues over the span of six months, from May 2022 to October 2023.
The affected venues included the Albion Charles Hotel, Brunswick Club, Coburg TAB Agency, Cramers Hotel, Doncaster Hotel, Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Edwardes Lake Hotel, Excelsior Hotel, Northcote TAB Agency, Olympic Hotel, Parkview Hotel, Preston Hotel, and Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel.
VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM condemned Tabcorp’s failures, describing the breaches committed as “incredibly serious” and “reflecting a fundamental failure to protect minors from the risks associated with gambling, as well as a lack of vigilance on their part”.
“These failures undermine the integrity and safety of the industry,” she pontificated.
Kimmitt also emphasized the importance of gambling providers and their staff in upholding the responsibilities to rigorously check IDs and supervise gambling activities to ensure minors are not able to access these services. “Their vigilance is crucial in safeguarding young people from the harms of gambling,” she said.
The VGCCC previously banned Tabcorp from accepting cash bets at most of its Victorian terminals. A statewide direction was issued by the regulator after it was found the company had not prevented minors from using Electronic Betting Terminals (EBTs) to wager.
Tabcorp has announced a substantial loss of AU$636.8 million ($417.2 million) and a 5 percent revenue decline in its latest half year report.
The VGCCC then vowed to continue taking decisive action to uphold the safety and wellbeing of the community, particularly when it comes to protecting children from the dangers of underage gambling.
