$30K Fine for Hoppers Club

VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan announced that 14 venue operators had been fined a total of $195,000 for breaches on these significant days in 2024. A further four were issued formal censure warnings.

“In Victoria, the availability of poker machines is restricted to a venue’s liquor licence hours, which may include additional restrictions on Good Friday, ANZAC Day and Christmas Day,” Ms Neilan stated at the time.

Ms Neilan also ​strongly advised venues to ensure they understood and complied with the obligations of their licence and only operated poker machines during permitted hours.

Among the venues penalised in 2024, Hoppers Crossing Club Limited — the only venue in Wyndham named in the crackdown — was fined $30,000 for breaches on both Good Friday and ANZAC Day. These breaches generated a poker machine turnover of $22,234.

The VGCCC also fined Melbourne Racing Club $60,000 for allowing poker machine use before noon on Good Friday at three of its venues: Steeples, The Coach and Horses, and Peninsula Club. Additionally, the Sale & District Greyhound Racing Club received a formal censure for breaching ANZAC Day trading hours.

Ms Neilan noted that, when determining penalties, the VGCCC took into account the length of time poker machines were operated outside permitted hours, the revenue generated, and each venue’s compliance history.

A full list of penalties was made available at the time, with further details published on the VGCCC website.

New laws introduced in August 2024 require all venues across Victoria to close their poker machine areas between 4 am and 10 am daily.

On ANZAC Day, only venues approved by RSL Victoria were permitted to offer games of Two-up, including during commemorative functions held in the week leading up to the day.