Another venue fined for underage gambling

Following the successful prosecution of the Peninsula Club in Dromana, Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) CEO Annette Kimmitt AM today reiterated the regulator would continue to crack down on venues that allow children to enter poker machine areas.

The Magistrates’ Court of Victoria fined Victorian Amateur Turf Club, the venue owner, $7,000 for 2 breaches of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic) and ordered it to pay VGCCC costs of $3,500. No conviction was recorded.

“This is a warning to every venue,” Ms Kimmitt said. “The onus is on you to ensure that children cannot and do not enter the gambling area or participate in any gambling activity, even if they’re with an adult.

“Equally, staff must be adequately trained and present in the gambling area to supervise while machines are in use.

“Research tells us that people who begin gambling at a young age are at greater risk of developing gambling problems as an adult.

“The rules exist to protect children from exposure to, and harm from, gambling.”

On 10 June 2023, a child entered the gambling area of the Peninsula Club twice and was able to use the poker machines on both occasions. During the second visit to the area, while with adults, the child used a poker machine for about 5 minutes, until staff intervened.

Magistrate Ayres considered the venue’s self-reporting, its lack of prior convictions, early plea and remediations implemented to reduce the chance of future offending.

This was the third VGCCC prosecution involving minors to be finalised in court this year;

• Correct Bet Pty Ltd, the operator of the Coburg TAB outlet, was fined $3,000 by the Magistrates’ Court for allowing a minor to gamble.
• The Supreme Edinburgh Pty Ltd, trading as the Duke of Edinburgh in Brunswick, was fined $2,500 after pleading guilty to 3 counts of breaching the Gambling Regulation Act.

The Correct Bet and Supreme Edinburgh fines were the final outcomes of the VGCCC’s most comprehensive action to date for underage gambling – in which fines totalled a combined half-a-million-dollars.

Additional information:

Anyone with concerns about minors being allowed to gamble or a gambling provider’s behaviour can lodge a complaint or tip-off here.

Anyone negatively affected by their own or someone else’s gambling is encouraged to call the 24/7 Gambler’s Helpline on 1800 858 858 for free and confidential support.