The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has issued a A$150,000 fine to Warrnambool Horse Hotel for multiple breaches of the Australian state’s gambling regulations.
The fine issued too Warrnambool Horse Hotel (trading as the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery) is one of the largest ever issued to a hotel or club in the state and follows the venue’s lack of adherence to its gambling licence obligations.
A VGCCC inspection also uncovered failures to comply with the Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct.
“The severity of this fine reflects the seriousness of the venue’s shortcomings,” said VGCCC chief executive Suzy Neilan said. “It is the largest fine issued to a club or hotel for these types of offences. Venue staff play an important role in protecting people from potentially experiencing gambling harm and all employees must take this responsibility seriously.”
VGCCC inspectors attended the Flying Horse Hotel Bar and Brewery twice in February 2024 and found four categories of breaches of the Gambling Regulation Act (VIC) 2003.
On 12 occasions between 29 January and 20 February 2024, there was no licenced Gambling Industry Employee (GIE) rostered at the venue. In addition, the venue failed to retain CCTV footage of the gaming area for 28 days as required by the Act; failed to maintain a CCTV system that can record the gaming area continuously (24/7); and failed to maintain an unclaimed winnings register that detailed unclaimed money.
The regulator also found numerous breaches of the venue’s Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct. These included not having a Responsible Gambling Officer (RGO) in the poker machine area while the machines were available for use on 22 occasions; three instances of staff failing to interact with a patron showing signs of distress which may be related to gambling harm; serving a drink to a patron using a poker machine without venue staff interaction; and a venue staff member playing two poker machines, using residual credits while working.
“The venue only held footage for the preceding 22 days, not 28 days as required by law,” continued Neilan. “Installing continuous CCTV and maintaining an unclaimed winnings register are not new or onerous requirements.
“Each of these measures exist either to monitor for and to reduce the risk of gambling harm to patrons or money laundering and other criminal behaviour in pubs and clubs.”
Last August, the venue pleaded guilty to four charges of allowing minors to enter the gaming room area and was fined $6,000 by the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.
The VGCCC acknowledged that the business had cooperated with the investigation and implemented remedial measures, including training of staff, installation of continuous CCTV in the gaming machine area and in the implementation of an unclaimed winnings register.