A decision to allow patrons to gamble on Christmas Day 2022 has cost a former hotel licensee $16,500.
The former licensee of the St George Hotel at Belmore, Rawin Sirikwankul, pleaded guilty to 30 offences under the Gaming Machines Act 2001 in Downing Centre Local Court earlier this month, following an investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW.
Liquor & Gaming NSW reviewed the hotel’s gaming activity and found that 30 gaming machines were operated during the period from 12pm to 10pm on Christmas Day 2022, which was not a prescribed time when the gaming machines were permitted to operate.
Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations, Jane Lin, said these were serious breaches of the state’s gaming laws.
“These restrictions are in place to reduce the risks of gambling harm by limiting the time patrons can spend playing gaming machines,” she said.
“Apart from breaking the law, the former licensee placed patrons at greater risk of gambling harm.
“As this case shows, licensees who fail to abide by prescribed gaming machine trading hours can expect to be caught and face significant penalties.”
This follows the licensee of the Royal Inn Hotel at Waratah recently being fined $7,500 for similar offences.
