The ACT Gambling and Racing Commission has fined Australia’s Hellenic Club of Canberra A$1.2 million for violating gambling regulations.
The sanction comes after an investigation into the club’s involvement in the suicide of Raimo Kasurinen, a problem gambler who died in March 2020.
According to ABC, the sanction was imposed following a four-year investigation into the club’s failure to prevent excessive gaming losses and violations of cash withdrawal limitations.
The commission found that the club had allowed Kasurinen and his wife to withdraw more than the permissible limit of A$200 per transaction using the club’s EFTPOS facilities on several occasions.
In addition, the club failed to adequately document problem gambling incidents as required by Gambling and Racing Control Regulations. These require venues to report events within three trading days after becoming aware of them.
In a letter to Kasurinen’s family, the commission indicated that the fine and reprimand serve as a public warning to prevent future misbehavior in the management of problem gambling cases.
The problem surfaced after Kasurinen’s son-in-law, David Chambers, filed a complaint with the club in December 2019 and again in March 2020, expressing worries about high gaming losses.
He later submitted an official complaint to the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission.
Chambers alleged the club ignored repeated warnings regarding his in-laws’ gambling habits. He also explained how the couple was able to get around EFTPOS withdrawal limits by making numerous withdrawals disguised as distinct transactions.
According to him, the technology enabled customers to input their card many times and withdraw up to A$1,000 in a single transaction, successfully avoiding the A$200 legal limit.
According to Hellenic Club of Canberra records, Kasurinen and his wife have bet more than A$345,000 since 2012, however Chambers believes the actual total is greater.
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The appeal is underway
In response to the commission’s conclusions, the Hellenic Club filed an appeal before the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The club expressed dismay with the regulatory action, citing procedural compliance rather than direct damage avoidance measures.
A club representative stated that the matter concerned the recording of gambling occurrences and EFTPOS withdrawal restrictions, and that the pending appeal procedure prevented additional discussion on the specifics of the commission’s decision.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform applauded the commission’s action, but called for stronger gambling harm prevention measures, such as cashless gaming, to combat problem gambling.
According to prior studies, a large amount of gaming machine revenue — 63 cents per dollar — comes from those battling with gambling addiction.
The Hellenic Club of Canberra ‘s fine is one of the heaviest ever issued by the ACT for gambling-related crimes.
However, industry stakeholders, like ClubsACT, have expressed concerns about the complexity of the current regulatory structure.
A ClubsACT spokeswoman told ABC that the four-year probe highlights the importance of efficient compliance protocols between the government and gaming establishments.
Australia continues to address gaming reform
Australian governments are actively exploring new policies for both land-based and internet gambling, with initiatives taking place at both the state and federal levels.
However, differing opinions on gambling among jurisdictions have made it difficult to implement legislation.
In Victoria, gaming measures were introduced in parliament last November. These steps reduce the maximum amount that can be played at once, from A$1,000 to A$100.
Gaming Minister Melissa Horne tabled the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Precommitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024, which follows an earlier proposal by former Premier Daniel Andrews.
The adjustments were described as the most effective gambling harm prevention strategies in Australia.
The bill creates a framework for carded play by forcing gamblers to utilize a player card while operating gambling machines. Furthermore, it requires individuals to set loss limitations before playing.
The program includes a default loss limit of A$50, which gamblers can adjust.
Other states have implemented similar measures, with differing degrees of limitation.
At the federal level, the Australian government has created the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Wagering, which is intended to protect those who gamble online.
The framework applies to all online businesses and includes ten measures to assist regulate gambling.
It prohibits lines of credit and payday financing for gaming, requires strong identity and age verification, and limits incentives and sign-up offers. Other safeguards include simplified account closure, deposit limitations, and monthly activity reports.
The framework also requires consistent risk messaging, staff training, and a national self-exclusion register.
However, not all responsible gambling policies make it into the books. The Australian government recently opted not to enact a contentious gambling advertising prohibition, prompting New South Wales to take matters into its own hands this week.
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