The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) has again been fined after self-reporting that it allowed three minors to gamble in its venues over four dates in 2024.
According to a release by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), the ALH was fined some AU$38,000 ($24,250) for the offenses, after pleading guilty to six charges.
The fact that the ALH self-reported was recognized as ‘a positive step’.
“Being accountable for wrongdoing demonstrates integrity, which has been a focus of the VGCCC’s ongoing work with gambling operators,” stated VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan.
However, the executive did not step back her criticism of the events themselves, noting “it’s not enough to own up after the fact. Venues must be proactive about ensuring that minors do not access poker machine areas by ensuring they have in place appropriate systems, processes and staff.”
Particularly, Neilan noted that it is not acceptable for any Victorian clubs and hotels to be repeat offenders.
The fine relates to three separate cases involving a 17-year-old, a ‘child’, and a 14-year-old. The individuals, separately engaged in gaming in the Cramers Hotel in Preston, the Excelsior Hotel in Thomastown and the Mountain View Hotel in Glen Waverley.
All of the cases involved gambling on poker machines.
Neilan noted that the VGCCC will remain vigilant in prosecuting venues for illegal activities, noting that “I encourage all hotels and clubs to review their operations, including staff training, and consider making any adjustments required to ensure compliance with the law”.
Aside from the fine leveled, the ALH was also ordered to pay the VGCCC’s legal costs of AU$40,000 ($25,500). Due to the company self-reporting, it avoided the normally imposed fine of AU$90,000 ($57,000).
ALH has already been subject to numerous fines for other offenses, and the VGCCC is likely to keep a keen eye on its operations going forward.
