Tabcorp and eight venues charged for allegedly allowing a minor to gamble

18 September 2023

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has charged Tabcorp along with eight venues for allegedly allowing a minor to gamble in breach of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003.

Tabcorp faces a total of 54 charges, including 27 counts of allowing a minor to gamble and failing to reasonably supervise its electronic betting terminals.

The venue operators and a TAB agency face allegations they allowed a minor to gamble on 27 occasions between 8 September and 1 November 2022.

The venue operators have been charged with allowing a minor to gamble, allowing a minor within a gaming machine area and failure to ensure gambling vending machines were reasonably supervised at all times. The TAB agency has been charged with allowing a minor to gamble and failing to ensure reasonable supervision of its electronic betting terminals.

The venues are the Olympic Hotel, the Brunswick Club, the Edwardes Lake Hotel, the Parkview Hotel, the Albion Charles Hotel, the Doncaster Hotel, the Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel and the Northcote TAB Agency.

If found guilty, the operators face a maximum collective fine of more than one million dollars, while Tabcorp could face a maximum fine of $698,997.60.

VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM said: “One of the most serious harms is allowing minors to gamble. All gambling venues must ensure they do not accept a bet from a minor and must ask for identification from anyone they suspect could be underage”.

The VGCCC launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a member of the public. If you see something of concern at a venue, let us know on 1300 599 759 or through the VGCCC complaints and tip-offs webpage.

The VGCCC will make no further comment while the matter is before the court.

Background

Operator	Venue	Alleged breach and subsection of the Gambling Regulation Act (2003)
Kevak Hotels Pty Ltd	The Olympic Hotel in Preston	3 x s10.7.3(1) Allow a minor to gamble. 3 x s10.7.10 Fail to ensure gambling vending machines were, at all times, reasonably supervised. 2x s10.7.6(1) Allow a minor within a gaming machine area.
The Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group Pty Ltd	The Albion Charles Hotel in Northcote	11 x s10.7.3(1) Allow a minor to gamble. 10 x s10.7.10 Fail to ensure gambling vending machines were, at all times, reasonably supervised. 6 x s10.7.6(1) Allow a minor within a gaming machine area.
The Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group Pty Ltd	The Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel in Reservoir	3 x s10.7.3(1) Allow a minor to gamble. 3 x s10.7.10 Failing to ensure that a vending machine is reasonably supervised. 2 x s10.7.6(1) Allow a minor within a gaming machine area.
The Australian Leisure & Hospitality Group Pty Ltd	The Doncaster Hotel in Doncaster	3 x s10.7.3(1) Allow a minor to gamble. 3 x s10.7.10 Fail to ensure gambling vending machines were, at all times, reasonably supervised. 3 x s10.7.6(1) Allow a minor within a gaming machine area.
The Brunswick Club Pty Ltd	The Brunswick Club in Brunswick	3 x s10.7.3(1) Allow a minor to gamble. 3 x s10.7.10 Fail to ensure gambling vending machines were, at all times, reasonably supervised. 1 x s10.7.6(1) Allow a minor within a gaming machine area.
Cathay International Pty Ltd	Parkview Hotel in Fitzroy North	1 x s10.7.3(1) Allow a minor to gamble. 1 x s10.7.10 Fail to ensure gambling vending machines were, at all times, reasonably supervised. 1 x s10.7.6(1) Allow a minor within a gaming machine area.
Lindec Pty Ltd	Edwardes Lakes Hotel in Reservoir	2 x s10.7.3(1) Allow a minor to gamble. 2 x s10.7.10 Fail to ensure gambling vending machines were, at all times, reasonably supervised. 1 x s10.7.6(1) Allow a minor within a gaming machine area.
Anicetus Pty Ltd.	Northcote Tab Agency in Northcote	2 x s10.7.3(1) Allow a minor to gamble. 2 x s10.7.10 Fail to ensure gambling vending machines were, at all times, reasonably supervised.

An Electronic Betting Terminal is a self-service touchscreen that allows people to place bets and can be found in all betting outlets and licensed pubs with TABs.

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Tabcorp and eight venues charged for allegedly allowing a minor to gamble