Agincourt Hotel fined for breaching gaming laws
The owner of the Agincourt Hotel in Sydney’s CBD has been slapped across the knuckles with a $33,000 fine for allowing punters to stay at poker machines after closing time into the early hours of the morning.
Liquor and Gaming NSW conducted an investigation into the Agincourt Hotel near Ultimo, going through its digital records, and found its patrons were still playing on poker machines at least 30 times between November and December 2015 during the 4am to 10am shutdown period. On one occasion, the punters was still at the machine as late as 5:01am.
Located on a prominent corner of Broadway, in one of the most densely populated precincts in the country, the Agincourt has a 24-hour licence, but there’s a prescribed gaming shut-down period of 4am-10am.
The shut-down period is there as part of a prohibition strategy to control problem gamblers.
However, it might have limited value with the bar less than two kilometres away from the casino which is open 24 hours and Bar Broadway, directly across the road, which has a dictated 3-hour shutdown period.
The bar’s licensee Samuel Reichel was also pulled up and fined $1100 for each of the breaches.
He pleaded guilty to the offences in Downing Centre Local Court.
In addition to that, he was convicted for failing to keep proper gaming records.
Liquor & Gaming NSW's Director of Compliance Operations, Sean Goodchild, said all licensees should take note of the case. He said it was a warning not to breach the pokies laws.
"The shutdown requirement is a key safeguard to minimise harm associated with problem gambling by limiting access to gaming machines and ensuring a break in play," Mr Goodchild said in a statement.
"Venue operators who allow gaming machines to be operated during their designated shutdown period can face significant penalties".
by Leon Gettler, 19th December 2016
