Australia
TAREN POINT HOTEL PENALISED FOR PROVIDING POKIE GAMBLER WITH FREE ALCOHOL
Taren Point Hotel licensee James Hughes has been ordered to pay over $23,500, and the hotel’s approval to keep gaming machines has been suspended for seven days, after a patron playing the pokies was unlawfully provided free alcohol over a six-hour period.
Under NSW gaming laws, it is illegal to offer or supply free or discounted alcohol as an inducement to play gaming machines in a hotel.
The incident happened between 10.30am and 8pm on 13 February 2019, when hotel staff gave the 49-year-old man 10 complimentary schooners of full-strength beer while he was playing the pokies. The Miranda man lost around $3000.
He complained to Liquor & Gaming NSW and, in December 2019, they submitted the complaint to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority specifying grounds for compliance action.
The Authority’s Chair Philip Crawford said the fine imposed on Mr Hughes reflects the seriousness of incentivised gambling on the community.
“Taren Point Hotel licensee James Hughes has contravened the Gaming Machines Regulation 2010 by engaging in conduct that encouraged, or was likely to encourage, the misuse and abuse of gambling activities,” Mr Crawford said.
“In addition to paying $23,692 in costs and fines, Taren Point Hotel is banned from operating their gaming machines for a week from 17 May 2021, a penalty that will see the venue forego a significant amount of profit.
“The gaming room staff had a well understood discretion to supply free liquor to gaming machine players, but with no adequate controls or checks with respect to the limits on the “reasonable” number of drinks to be served.
“This led to the Miranda man being supplied with 10 drinks over the course of his gaming session in circumstances where the man was displaying multiple signs of problem gambling.
“This should serve as a reminder to gaming machines venues in NSW to operate at the highest legal and ethical standards and be mindful of their responsibilities with respect to identifying and addressing signs of problem gambling.”
Mr Hughes has a right to appeal the decision.
Australia
Newcastle Hotel Fined for Gaming Machine Offences
Newcastle hotel out of pocket $7,540 for gaming machine offences
A Newcastle hotel has been fined $7,540 after being convicted of operating gaming machines outside authorised hours.
The licensee of the Royal Inn Hotel at Waratah pleaded guilty to 13 offences under the Gaming Machines Act 2001 in Downing Centre Local Court on March 11 following an investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW.
Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, Jane Lin, said these were serious breaches of the state’s gaming laws.
“These restrictions are in place to reduce the risks of gambling harm by limiting the time patrons can spend playing gaming machines,” Lin said. “Apart from breaking the law, the Royal Inn Hotel placed its patrons at greater risk of gambling harm. As this case shows, venues that fail to abide by gaming machine trading hours can expect to be caught and face significant penalties.”
Liquor & Gaming NSW reviewed the hotel’s gaming activity and found that on Saturday, April 15, 22 and 29, 2023, gaming machines were operated during the shutdown period from 1am to 7am. The hotel submitted to the court that the breaches were a genuine misunderstanding of the licence conditions by the approved manager.
In sentencing, the magistrate noted the onus was on the licensee to ensure staff were appropriately trained and that a message had to be sent to those venues, which had the highly profitable right of operating gaming machines in New South Wales.
For free, confidential advice and support, call GambleAware on 1800 858 858 24/7 or visit www. GambleAware.nsw. gov. au.
Australia
AUSTRAC Commences Investigation into Online Betting Company Bet365
AUSTRAC has commenced an enforcement investigation into Hillside (Australia New Media) Pty Limited (bet365).
The investigation will focus on whether bet365 has complied with its obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act) and follows a supervisory campaign of entities within the corporate bookmaker sector and AUSTRAC’s consideration of the external audit report received following AUSTRAC’s order to bet365 to appoint an external auditor.
AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas, said betting agencies, like all regulated entities, have a significant role to play in combating financial crime.
“Corporate bookmakers must have robust systems in place to ensure they can manage and mitigate risks associated with money laundering and terrorism financing,” Mr Thomas said.
“Businesses without adequate processes in place to manage those risks leave themselves vulnerable to exploitation by criminals.”
Australia
Aristocrat Appoints Matthew Primmer as Chief Product Officer
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd announced the appointment of Mr Matthew (Matt) Primmer to the position of Chief Product Officer, reporting directly to Aristocrat CEO & Managing Director Trevor Croker. Mr Primmer’s appointment is effective immediately. He will join Aristocrat’s Executive Steering Committee, and remain based at the company’s offices in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mr Primmer comes to the role with over 20 years’ experience in the global gaming industry, including ten years at Aristocrat in a range of senior product strategy, insights and leadership roles in Australia and the US. Mr Primmer has been Chief Product Officer at Aristocrat Gaming for four years, leading Design & Development (D&D) in Aristocrat’s largest operating business, with casino game content and hardware comprising its most strategically important portfolios. Mr Primmer previously held marketing and sales roles at Ainsworth Game Technology and Shuffle Master. Mr Primmer holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong.
“I am delighted to elevate a global gaming executive of Matt’s calibre to our leadership team. Over the past decade, Matt has made a strong contribution to building and extending Aristocrat Gaming’s global product leadership, fostering our outstanding creative and technical talent, championing D&D and placing customer needs at the centre of our product strategy,” Mr Croker said.
“Matt’s appointment brings additional, proven gaming experience to the executive team. In his new role, Matt will help us maintain an enterprise view of product strategy as our business grows to encompass a broader range of product verticals, while also ensuring the most effective allocation of D&D investment” Croker added.
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