The Victorian regulator has ramped up its prosecution of the operators of the Tower Hotel, laying a total of 38 charges over alleged responsible gambling failures, with maximum fines in the millions.
In September the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) issued 35 charges to Rumotel P/L, which operates the Tower Hotel in Hawthorn East. The charges were in relation to alleged failures to ensure staff had completed compulsory training, and not having the state’s mandatory pre-commitment technology – YourPlay – functioning on the EGMs and kiosk.
Victorian gaming venues must ensure Responsible Gambling Officers are always present during gaming room operating hours, under the Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct, and the Officers must intervene where patrons display signs of distress or engage in extended play.
These incidents must then be recorded in the Register.
Failure to implement a Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct is a breach of the venue operator’s licence conditions, under the Gambling Regulation Act 2003.
The VGCCC has now issued three further charges against Rumotel, for allegedly breaching its Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct by failing to ensure a Responsible Gambling Officer was always available in the gaming machine area, and for not properly maintaining the Responsible Gambling Register.
These new charges carry a maximum fine of $1.387 million, bringing the total across all 38 charges to $2.145 million.
“Just as you wouldn’t operate a public swimming pool without a lifeguard, venues are required to continuously monitor their gaming floors and intervene whenever the welfare of players is at risk,” stresses VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM.
“The VGCCC will continue to pursue venues that deliberately fail to apply their responsible gambling code of conducts in full.”
The VGCCC website provides more information on Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct, Responsible Gambling Officers, and Responsible Gambling Registers.
