The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has charged Tabcorp along with eight venues for allegedly allowing a minor to gamble, with the operators facing possible combined fines of AU$1.7 million (US$1.09 million).
According to details released by the regulator on Monday, Tabcorp is facing 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, in breach of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003.
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 in question 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, VGCCC said.
If found guilty, the venues face a maximum collective fine of more than AU$1 million (US$644,000) while Tabcorp could face a maximum fine of AU$698,997.60 (US$450,100).
“One of the most serious harms is allowing minors to gamble,” said VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM. “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 said it launched an investigation after receiving a complaint from a member of the public.
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