$80,000 fine for Rye Hotel following integrity breaches

The owner of the Rye Hotel has received a fine of AU$80,000 from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission following two integrity breaches.

Along with the fine, the Commission has required an undertaking from the owner to sell the Rye Hotel and quit the gambling industry.

In the first incident, senior hotel staff falsified records to cover a cash payment of $2,039 made in error to a patron. Any payment of more than $2,000 should be made by heque or EFT, and the attempted cover up constitutes serious integrity failings and misconduct.

In the second incident, the venue issued a cheque to an ineligible person at the request of a winning patron who could not produce ID to collect their winnings. Venues are required to ensure they only process payments to the person playing the electronic gaming machine and ensure the appropriate identity checks are undertaken.

“Venue operators and owners need to understand the full extent of consequences for falsifying records and concealing misconduct,” said VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM. 

“We know that honest mistakes happen. However, venue operators that attempt to cover up breaches will be caught and face serious repercussions.”