Tabcorp and Melbourne pubs charged with underage gambling

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), the gaming regulator for the Australian state, has charged Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. and several other venues with multiple breaches of gambling legislation related to allowing a minor to gamble. These breaches are in violation of the Gambling Act of 2003 in the Australian region.

The VGCCC has charged Tabcorp with a total of 54 breaches of the legislation. Among these, 27 counts are related to allowing minors to place wagers due to inadequate supervision at the retail gaming outlets. These breaches occurred during a specific time frame in 2022, between September 8th and November 1st, when a minor was able to freely gamble at a TAB agency and various gaming venues.

The investigation into these breaches was initiated following a complaint from a concerned member of the public, prompting the VGCCC to thoroughly examine the situation.

CEO of VGCCC, Annette Kimmitt, highlighted the seriousness of allowing minors to gamble and emphasized that all gambling venues must ensure they do not accept bets from minors. Operators are expected to request identification from anyone they suspect could be underage to prevent such incidents.

The VGCCC statement lists the eight locations where the gaming violations took place. These venues include the Olympic Hotel, the Brunswick Club, the Edwardes Lake Hotel, the Parkview Hotel, the Albion Charles Hotel, the Doncaster Hotel, the Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel, and the Northcote TAB Agency.

The alleged breaches of the Gambling Act could result in significant fines for the gaming venues involved. Collectively, the operators could face total fines exceeding $1 million. If these breaches are substantiated, Tabcorp may be subject to a maximum fine of $700,000.

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