Australia's ALH fined for exposing minors to gambling in Victorian venues
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has fined Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) AUD38,000 (€21,159) after minors were allowed to enter and use poker machine areas at three of its hotels in 2024. The VGCCC said the penalty, issued without conviction by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, followed ALH’s guilty plea to six charges relating to three separate incidents.
VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan said ALH’s self-reporting of the breaches was a positive move but not a substitute for proper preventative action. “Being accountable for wrongdoing demonstrates integrity, which has been a focus of the VGCCC’s ongoing work with gambling operators,” she said.
“But 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,” she added.
Details of breaches across three venues
The charges relate to incidents at the Cramers Hotel in Preston, the Excelsior Hotel in Thomastown, and the Mountain View Hotel in Glen Waverley.
On 24 January 2024, a 17-year-old was able to enter the poker machine area of the Cramers Hotel multiple times without being asked for identification. He interacted with staff and returned to the area several times without intervention. It was only the following day, when he placed his belongings next to a poker machine, that the staff intervened.
On 24 April 2024, a child accompanied by two adults entered the poker machine area of the Excelsior Hotel. The child sat beside one of the adults and pressed buttons on a poker machine before being removed from the area.
On 27 September 2024, a 14-year-old boy entered the poker machine room of the Mountain View Hotel and gambled before being approached by staff.
Each venue faced two charges: one for allowing a minor to enter a gaming machine area and one for allowing a minor to gamble.
VGCCC urges better staff training and controls
Neilan stressed that hotels and clubs must review their processes to ensure minors are kept out of gambling areas. “Operators should undertake a risk assessment and put in place controls to prevent minors from entering gambling areas,” she said. “Some examples of controls could include displaying clear signage that the poker machine room is for adults only and checking the identification of anyone who appears under 25 years of age.”
Neilan added that it was particularly concerning to see repeat breaches at venues like the Cramers and Excelsior hotels. “It is not acceptable that any Victorian clubs and hotels – in this case, the Cramers and Excelsior hotels – were repeat offenders.”
Magistrate notes penalty could have been higher
In addition to the AUD38,000 (€21,159) fine, the court ordered ALH to pay AUD40,000 (€22,273) in legal costs to the VGCCC. The Magistrate noted that without the guilty plea, the penalty would likely have included an AUD90,000 (€50,114) fine and a recorded conviction.
Neilan said the VGCCC would continue to take legal action where necessary but emphasised prevention. “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.” The regulatory body urged anyone concerned about minors accessing gambling or a provider’s conduct to lodge a complaint through the VGCCC’s reporting channels.
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