Former Sydney hotel operator hit with AU$44K gambling-related fine

• One former licensee in New South Wales received a gambling-related fine
• Liquor & Gaming NSW filed a complaint against the former operator of a Canley Vale hotel that was found to operate gaming machines during mandatory shutdown hours
• Dimitri Argeres, Liquor & Gaming NSW's Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, comments on the topic

A company that formerly operated a hotel in New South Wales, Australia, received a monetary sanction after operating gambling machines during mandatory shutdown hours.

Announcement about the hefty five-figure fine came earlier this week from the state's gambling regulator, Liquor & Gaming NSW.

Ex-Canley Vale hotel operator receives hefty sanction

The monetary sanction affected the former licensee of a Canley Vale hotel, the former Richards on the Park Hotel, where gambling devices were positioned.

An investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW uncovered that the former licensee operated during mandatory shutdown periods between May 2022 and September 2023.

Overall, the former licensee breached the requirements by operating during mandatory shutdown hours on 68 occasions.

As a result, the state gambling watchdog filed a complaint, resulting in a penalty imposed by the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority.

The former licensee of the Canley Vale hotel received an AU$44,000 ($29,000) fine for its violations.

Presently, the aforementioned hotel has changed its ownership, and the former operator is now longer in charge of running the hotel, Liquor & Gaming NSW explained.

The hefty monetary sanction marks the second fine imposed against a hotel for operating gambling devices in breach of the requirement for mandatory shutdown hours.

In November, the Concourse Hotel in the Sydney CBD was hit with an AU$110,000 ($73,000) sanction.

Similar to the most recent fine, the hotel violated the mandatory shutdown hours by operating gaming machines. In that particular case, Liquor & Gaming NSW uncovered that the violation was over eight months and it dated back to 2023.

Breaching the established gambling rules is a serious matter

Previously, gaming machine operators had the option to vary the hours during which their gambling devices operated.

However, the local government has implemented changes, effectively revoking outdated exemptions that permitted such varying hours.

The change to the gambling regulations will be implemented effectively from March 31, 2026, and the licensees will be given a notice period to ensure their compliance.

Dimitri Argeres, Liquor & Gaming NSW's Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, spoke about the importance of having shutdown periods as a way to decrease potential gambling-related harm.

"Breaching these rules is a serious matter, and this penalty sends a clear message that compliance is not optional," he said.

Moreover, Argeres pointed out: "Allowing gaming machines to operate during shutdown hours increases the risk of gambling harm, particularly in areas identified as high-risk. This decision reinforces the importance of harm minimization and industry accountability."

The executive explained that all gaming machines in New South Wales must be connected to one centralized system used for monitoring.

Last but not least, Argeres said that Liquor & Gaming NSW will carefully examine data from this system, launch investigations or engage in other actions to ensure compliance of the operators.

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