ALH fined A$78,000 for allowing minors into pokies lounges at Melbourne venues
Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) has been fined A$78,000 after admitting to breaches of Victoria’s gambling laws by allowing minors into gaming lounges at three Melbourne venues.
The Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) brought six charges against the pokies giant, which self-reported the breaches and later pleaded guilty. The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard that the incidents took place at the Excelsior Hotel in Thomastown, the Mountain View Hotel in Glen Waverley, and the Cramers Hotel in Preston.
In one case, a child remained in a gaming lounge for over an hour, shielded from detection by a group of adults. In another, a 14-year-old entered the restricted area.
The court was critical of ongoing regulatory shortcomings and lenient penalties. “It seems to be as part of the course, that cases all come into the court as a self-report … and then the companies come to the court stating that this is part of operating a large business,” the magistrate said. “It seems regrettable that this is the way the act is administered.”
ALH, which operates over 80 venues in Victoria, said it had dismissed two employees involved and placed a manager on final warning. The company is trialling artificial intelligence-based age-detection cameras to enhance compliance.
Defence counsel Glenn Barr stated that ALH opted not to seek a good behaviour bond due to the “risk of breaching it” and acknowledged that “there is a risk of it occurring” again despite the company’s efforts.
Of the total penalty, A$38,000 was issued in fines and A$40,000 covered legal costs.
Jonathan Jackson, 24th June 2025
