- Published:
- Thursday 12 February 2026 at 9:45 am
A regional Victorian venue’s lack of adherence to its gambling licence obligations has resulted in a hefty fine, Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission CEO, Suzy Neilan announced today.
Warrnambool Horse Hotel Pty Ltd (trading as the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery) has been fined $150,000 for multiple breaches of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic), following a VGCCC inspection that also uncovered failures to comply with the venue’s Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct.
‘The severity of this fine reflects the seriousness of the venue’s shortcomings. It is the largest fine issued to a club or hotel for these types of offences’, Ms Neilan said.
‘Venue staff play an important role in protecting people from potentially experiencing gambling harm and all employees must take this responsibility seriously.’
VGCCC inspectors attended the Flying Horse Hotel Bar and Brewery twice in February 2024 and found 4 categories of breaches of the Gambling Regulation Act (VIC) 2003.
These included:
- on 12 occasions between 29 January and 20 February 2024, there was no licenced Gambling Industry Employee (GIE) rostered at the venue
- failing to retain CCTV footage of the gaming area for 28 days as required by the Act
- failing to maintain a CCTV system that can record the gaming area continuously (24/7)
- failing to maintain an unclaimed winnings register that detailed unclaimed money.
Further, inspectors also found numerous breaches of the venue’s Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct. These included:
- not having a Responsible Gambling Officer (RGO) in the poker machine area while the machines were available for use on 22 occasions
- 3 instances of staff failing to interact with a patron showing signs of distress which may be related to gambling harm
- serving a drink to a patron using a poker machine without venue staff interaction
- a venue staff member playing two poker machines, using residual credits while working.
‘The venue only held footage for the preceding 22 days, not 28 days as required by law. Installing continuous CCTV and maintaining an unclaimed winnings register are not new or onerous requirements,’ Ms Neilan said.
‘Each of these measures exist either to monitor for and to reduce the risk of gambling harm to patrons or money laundering and other criminal behaviour in pubs and clubs.’
In August 2025 the venue pleaded guilty to 4 charges of allowing minors to enter the gaming room area and was fined $6,000 by the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.
The VGCCC acknowledges that the business has cooperated with the investigation and has implemented remedial measures including training of staff, installation of continuous CCTV in the gaming machine area and in the implementation of an unclaimed winnings register.
The VGCCC’s Reasons for Decision is available on the VGCCC website.
Additional information:
Anyone with concerns about a gambling provider’s behaviour can lodge a complaint or tip-off with the VGCCC(opens in a new window).
Anyone negatively affected by their own or someone else’s gambling is encouraged to call the 24/7 Gambler’s Helpline on 1800 858 858 for free and confidential support.
Updated