Newcastle Hotel Fined $7,540 for Gaming Machine Offences
A hotel in Newcastle has been fined $7,540 for operating gaming machines outside of the authorized hours. The Royal Inn Hotel in Waratah pleaded guilty to 13 offences under the Gaming Machines Act 2001, as revealed in the Downing Centre Local Court on March 11. Liquor & Gaming NSW conducted an investigation leading to these charges.
According to Jane Lin, the Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, these violations are considered serious breaches of the state’s gaming laws. The purpose of the restrictions is to minimize gambling harm by limiting the amount of time patrons can spend playing gaming machines. Lin emphasized that aside from breaking the law, the Royal Inn Hotel put its patrons at a greater risk of gambling harm. The case serves as a reminder that venues that disregard gaming machine trading hours are liable to be caught and face significant penalties.
During the review of the hotel’s gaming activity, Liquor & Gaming NSW discovered that the gaming machines were operational during the shutdown period from 1am to 7am on Saturdays, specifically on April 15, 22, and 29, 2023. The hotel argued in court that the breaches were a result of a genuine misunderstanding of the license conditions by the approved manager.
In delivering the sentence, the magistrate stressed that it was the hotel’s responsibility to ensure that its staff were adequately trained. The ruling also highlighted the need to send a message to venues in New South Wales, which have the profitable privilege of operating gaming machines.
If you need free and confidential advice and support, you can call GambleAware at 1800 858 858. You can also visit their website at www.GambleAware.nsw.gov.au.
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