ALH pleaded guilty to 24 charges of underage gambling breaches across several of its venues in Victoria. These include Albion Charles Hotel, Cramers Hotel, Doncaster Hotel, Excelsior Hotel, Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel and Westside Taverner.

The VGCCC said the main issue was ALH allowing a teenager to gamble on multiple occasions at five venues. This took place over several months between September 2022 to October 2023.

On top of this, ALH was reprimanded for allowing an eight-year-old to enter the poker machine area at Westside Taverner. The child was accompanied by an adult, but state law prohibits minors from entering any gambling areas in Victoria. Staff spoke to the adult to ask them to leave and then reported the incident to the VGCCC.

The regulator also noted a wider failure in that ALH failed to ensure electronic betting terminals were reasonably supervised at all times.

Zero tolerance approach from Victoria regulator

After pleading guilty, ALH was issued several penalties. These include a $175,000 fine for the teenager who was allowed to gamble and $2,500 for the child. ALH was also ordered to pay the VGCCC $45,000 in costs.

Commenting on the case, VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt welcomes the decision. She said the regulator has a “zero tolerance” approach to underage gambling breaches

“It is well established that minors who gamble are more likely to experience severe harm from gambling as adults,” Kimmitt said. “All venues therefore have a legal and social obligation to protect children from that risk.

“We have zero tolerance for operators that flout the law, especially when children are involved.

“While I commend the staff for intervening when they became aware there was a minor in the poker machine area, it is never acceptable for a child to gain access to a venue’s gambling area.”

Ongoing effort to clamp down on regulatory breaches in Victoria

This is not the first time ALH has been penalised in Victoria. At the end of 2023, the group was fined $480,000 for breaching rules over operating hours.

Also last year, the VGCCC issued ALH with a $550,000 fine for breaching rules on gambling control.

Incidentally, the latest prosecution is part of a suite of actions against venues and Tabcorp for allowing a minor to gamble. Several rulings have already been made in this case, while two actions remain before the Magistrates’ Court.

Preston Hotel was fined $25,300, while Parkview Hotel, The Brunswick Club, The Olympic Hotel, Northcote TAB Agency in Northcote and Edwardes Lakes Hotel in Reservoir have also been handed fines.

In addition to this, Tabcorp was ordered to pay $370,417.