Betting giant Tabcorp has been ordered to stop accepting cash at its machines in Victorian pubs and clubs unless they are properly supervised by staff after a teenager – with gambling debts of nearly $100,000 – placed bets at multiple venues.
According to the state’s gaming regulator, the 16-year-old was able to gamble on more than 30 occasions between May 2022 and October 2023 at multiple venues across Melbourne’s northern suburbs. The matter is the subject of ongoing court action against venues.
In a victim impact statement tendered in court in one case, the teenager’s mother said he had borrowed money to finance his gambling addiction from people who later threatened their safety. She alleges two people broke into her home with machetes.
“To repay my son’s gambling debts, I felt I had no choice and out of terror I withdrew my super and maxed out my credit card. I re-mortgaged my previously paid off home to pay back the criminals a total of $90,000,” her statement said.
The mother said she frantically sought help from support services without success. She said she visited some of the venues where her son had gambled with a picture of him, urging them not accept his bets.
“My son continued to enter these venues without being stopped or asked for ID. This was devastating and shocking to me that this continued to happen,” the statement said.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s chief executive, Annette Kimmitt, told Guardian Australia that Tabcorp must comply with the directive to stop unsupervised cash payments by the end of the month.
“We decided enough was enough,” Kimmitt said. “You could just insert your cash and make your bets. Children were using these machines.”
The commission’s directive will require all machines that cannot be supervised by a staff member within a five-metre distance to no longer accept cash. Instead, gamblers would need to obtain a voucher from a staff member who could check their identification.
There are about 1,800 electronic betting terminals across the state. About 70% of those will no longer accept cash as a result of the directive.
“Mystery shoppers” will also attend venues with electronic betting terminals to make sure staff are complying with the directive. Anyone suspected of being younger than 25 will need to be asked for identification.
“If the venues don’t check IDs then there are a series of escalating consequences,” Kimmitt said. “But ultimately, if they don’t get their acts together, those terminals will be removed.”
A Tabcorp spokesperson said it was working with the VGCCC to “create a safe and enjoyable experience for customers”.
“We’ll work with the VGCC and the retail network for a smooth implementation,” the spokesperson said.
Kimmitt said the company was complying with the directive and was committed to solving the issue of underage gambling.
“It is inexcusable to accept a bet from a minor and tougher actions are required to protect the community, especially children, from gambling harm,” Kimmitt said.
“Venue staff are the first line of defence in protecting minors from gambling. We have taken decisive measures where they have failed to take their responsibilities seriously.”
The change is also expected to reduce the risk of money laundering.
In December, a magistrate ordered a club to pay a fine of $8,160 for allowing the 16-year-old to gamble at the venue for 10 minutes.
According to the regulator, the fine would have been higher had the club not pleaded guilty. The venue had also taken steps prevent it from occurring again.
A magistrate has also ordered a pub to pay a fine of $15,000 and $10,300 in legal costs in relation to the teenager’s gambling.
• In Australia, Gambling Help Online is available on 1800 858 858. The National Debt Helpline is at 1800 007 007. In the UK, support for problem gambling can be found via the NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic on 020 7381 7722, or GamCare on 0808 8020 133. In the US, call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 800-GAMBLER or text 800GAM.
