A south-west Victorian pub has been fined $150,000 for multiple breaches of gambling regulations, which included failing to assist patrons in distress and staff members playing poker machines while on the clock.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission said inspectors visited the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery in Warrnambool twice in February 2024 and found four different types of breaches of the Gambling Regulation Act.
These included failing to have a licensed gambling industry employee rostered on at the venue on 12 occasions, and failing to keep an unclaimed winnings register with a record of unclaimed money.
The bar breached multiple gambling regulations in Feburary 2024. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin)
The commission said the venue failed to keep CCTV footage of the gaming area for 28 days and failed to maintain a CCTV system that recorded the gaming area continuously, as required by law.
The inspectors also discovered the bar had numerous breaches of its own code of conduct.
This included three instances of failing to interact with a patron showing signs of distress that may have related to gambling harm.
The commission said inspectors found a venue staff member playing two poker machines using residual credits while working, and the bar did not have a responsible gambling officer in the poker machine area while the machines were open to the public on 22 occasions.
Largest fine
Commission chief executive Suzy Neilan said the fine was the largest issued to a club or hotel for these types of offences.
“The severity of this fine reflects the seriousness of the venue’s shortcomings,” she said.
“Venue staff play an important role in protecting people from potentially experiencing gambling harm and all employees must take this responsibility seriously.”
In August 2025, the venue pleaded guilty to four charges of allowing minors to enter the gaming room and was fined $6,000 by the Warrnambool Magistrates Court.
The Flying Horse Bar and Brewery has been approached for comment.
The commission said it acknowledged the business had co-operated with the investigation and had since made changes, including training of staff, installation of continuous CCTV in the gaming machine area, and introducing an unclaimed winnings register.