Warrnambool venue hit with record fine after responsible gambling breaches
A Warrnambool hospitality venue has been hit with a $150,000 penalty after regulators uncovered multiple breaches of Victoria’s gambling laws and responsible gambling requirements.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission imposed the fine on Warrnambool Horse Hotel Pty Ltd, which operates the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery, following inspections that identified widespread compliance failures.
Investigators found that on 12 occasions between late January and February 2024, no licensed Gambling Industry Employee was rostered. The venue was also found to have failed CCTV obligations, including not retaining 28 days of gaming area footage and not maintaining a system capable of continuous 24/7 recording. Authorities further identified record-keeping breaches involving the venue’s unclaimed winnings register.
“The severity of this fine reflects the seriousness of the venue’s shortcomings,” Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission CEO Suzy Neilan said.
“It is the largest fine issued to a club or hotel for these types of offences.
“Venue staff play an important role in protecting people from potentially experiencing gambling harm and all employees must take this responsibility seriously.”
Additional responsible gambling violations were recorded, including repeated failures to have a Responsible Gambling Officer present while poker machines were operating. Inspectors documented instances where staff failed to respond to a distressed patron, served drinks to a player without interaction, and a staff member played slot machines while on duty.
“The venue only held footage for the preceding 22 days, not 28 days as required by law,” Neilan said.
“Installing continuous CCTV and maintaining an unclaimed winnings register are not new or onerous requirements.”
‘Each of these measures exist either to monitor for and to reduce the risk of gambling harm to patrons or money laundering and other criminal behaviour in pubs and clubs.’
The enforcement action follows a separate 2025 court matter in which the venue was fined for allowing minors into the gaming area.
Australia has one of the biggest poker machine industries in the world, with many pubs and clubs featuring “pokies”, with legal gambling pumping billions into the local economy each year.
Despite the booming land-based gambling venues in Australia, there is no legal iGaming, with online casinos banned under local laws.
