A Melbourne pub has been fined for its role in the run-away debts and gambling problem of a 16-year-old, whose mother had tried every means to stop him.
The Melbourne mother discovered her son was gambling thousands of dollars, and early 2022 she began trying to get him help, contacting dozens of individuals and organisations, including gambling helplines, politicians and rehabilitation programs.
But due to him being a minor and his unwillingness to stop gambling, none could provide help, instead telling her to not give him access to money. She considered private rehabilitation, but was said to have been put off by the $30k bill.
Her son had also accessed online betting platforms, and is thought to have amassed gambling debts of more than $95k.
She had already been forced to use her superannuation, re-mortgage the house she owned outright, and take on extra work.
Desperate, she alerted the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), which began investigations into multiple gaming venues across Melbourne’s northern suburbs, and in May Tabcorp and the Preston Hotel were first to face charges, of failing to properly supervise electronic gaming machines.
The Hotel was hit with 15 charges, including six counts of allowing a minor to gamble and failing to reasonably supervise betting terminals, as well as three charges of allowing a minor to enter a gaming machine area. The teen had used the EGMs on multiple occasions, entering for just a few minutes at a time and betting amounts ranging from $100 to $750, totalling $2,500.
Hotel operator Ben Niall spoke in court, saying he was appalled it had occurred at his venue.
Magistrate Carolyn Howe stressed the obligation is on the venue operator to protect children, and allowing this young man to gamble any amount, anywhere, enabled his addiction.
However, Howe noted steps taken by the venue and its previous compliance history, which were what allowed the Preston Hotel to avoid a conviction.
It faced a maximum fine of $221,904 on the charges, but was fined $15k plus ordered to pay $10,300 to cover prosecution costs.
The VGCCC continues its investigations into other venues.
