The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has imposed a $7,000 fine on the Peninsula Club in Dromana after it was found to have violated underage gambling regulations. The venue, operated by the Victorian Amateur Turf Club, was also ordered to cover $3,500 in VGCCC legal costs. However, no conviction was recorded against the venue.

Peninsula Club penalized for underage gambling violations:

The penalty stems from an incident on June 10, 2023, when a child was able to enter the gambling area of the Peninsula Club on two separate occasions. During the second entry, the child engaged with a poker machine for roughly five minutes before staff intervened. The Magistrates’ Court of Victoria ruled that this constituted two breaches of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), leading to the financial penalty.

Magistrate Julian Ayres acknowledged that the venue had self-reported the violation, had no prior convictions, entered an early guilty plea, and had implemented corrective measures to prevent similar breaches in the future.

VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM emphasized that this ruling serves as a clear warning to all gambling venues in Victoria.

“The onus is on you to ensure that children cannot and do not enter the gambling area or participate in any gambling activity, even if they’re with an adult,” Kimmitt stated in the regulator’s press release. “Equally, staff must be adequately trained and present in the gambling area to supervise while machines are in use.

“Research tells us that people who begin gambling at a young age are at greater risk of developing gambling problems as an adult.

“The rules exist to protect children from exposure to, and harm from, gambling.”

VGCCC’s broader crackdown on underage gambling:

The case involving the Peninsula Club is one of several recent enforcement actions taken by the VGCCC against venues permitting minors to engage in gambling activities.

Earlier this year, two other Victorian venues faced financial penalties following an extensive investigation into underage gambling incidents. Correct Bet Pty Ltd, which operates the Coburg TAB outlet, was fined $3,000, while Supreme Edinburgh Pty Ltd, trading as the Duke of Edinburgh in Brunswick, was fined $2,500 after admitting to multiple violations of the Gambling Regulation Act.

The penalties against these venues were linked to a broader investigation concerning a 17-year-old neurodivergent boy who was found to have accessed gambling facilities at multiple locations between May 2022 and October 2023. The VGCCC’s crackdown on underage gambling led to nearly half-a-million dollars in total fines across numerous venues.

The regulator remains committed to ensuring compliance with gambling laws and preventing minors from being exposed to gambling environments.