Betting giant Tabcorp has been ordered to stop accepting cash at its electronic betting machines in pubs and clubs across Victoria unless staff are present, after a 16-year-old gambled almost $100,000 at multiple venues.
The teenager placed bets on more than 30 occasions between May 2022 and October 2023 in Melbourne's northern suburbs. His mother told a court she withdrew her superannuation and re-mortgaged her home to repay $90,000 to criminals who threatened her family, with two people allegedly breaking in wielding machetes.
She said she visited venues with a picture of her son urging staff not to accept his bets, but he continued to gamble. Victoria's gambling regulator, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), said "children were using these machines", citing repeated failures by venues to check identification.
Under the new directive, all machines not supervised within five metres of staff will no longer accept cash. Gamblers will instead need to obtain a voucher from staff, who must check identification. About 70% of Victoria's 1,800 betting terminals are affected. Mystery shoppers will monitor compliance, and under-25s must be asked for ID.
Tabcorp said it would work with the regulator for a smooth implementation. The VGCCC's chief executive, Annette Kimmitt, said it was "inexcusable to accept a bet from a minor" and that tougher actions were required to protect the community. A club has been fined $8,160 and a pub fined $15,000 plus costs for allowing the teenager to gamble. The change is also expected to reduce money-laundering risks.
