Requiring patrons to walk through a gaming room to leave a south Sydney hotel has seen its licensee prosecuted, convicted, and fined.

Mortdale Hotel licensee Paul Whitehead pleaded guilty to breaching the Gaming Machines Act 2001 in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 18 June, following an investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW.

Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors conducting compliance checks at the hotel on 18 August 2023 found the main bar’s exit door was locked and the only way to leave the hotel was through the gaming room.

Gaming legislation requires that patrons must not be compelled to pass through a gaming room in order to enter or leave a venue, or to gain access to another area.

Advertisement

Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations Jane Lin said it was a serious breach of the state’s gaming laws.

“These restrictions are in place to reduce the risks of gambling harm,” Ms Lin said.

“Apart from breaking the law, the licensee put patrons at potential risk of harm by compelling them to walk through the gaming room to leave the venue.

“As this case shows, licensees who fail to abide by gaming machine regulations can expect to be caught and prosecuted.”

Australian gambling services firm Tabcorp Holdings has appointed former Australian Football League (AFL) boss Gillon McLachlan as its chief executive and managing director.

The appointment comes months after former chief Adam Rytenskild resigned over allegedly using “offensive” and “inappropriate” language at the workplace and as the firm navigates a strategic transformation amid heightened competition pressures.

McLachlan was the AFL chief executive for a decade during which he contributed to significant revenue growth and oversaw its expansion.

Advertisement

He will join Tabcorp on Aug. 5 and assume the roles of CEO and MD upon receiving regulatory approvals, the company said. He will receive an annual fixed remuneration of AU$ 1.5 million.

“In the two years since demerger, we have significantly improved our customer offering and delivered key structural reforms in Queensland and Victoria,” Tabcorp Executive Chairman Bruce Akhurst said.

“Gill brings an added dimension of having been responsible for some of the most significant media rights deals in Australian sports history and we’re excited about the potential growth opportunities for our wagering and media business under his leadership,” Bruce Akhurst added.

BetMakers Technology Group Ltd, the leading global B2B provider of technologies and services that simplify betting at critical points in wagering, announced the appointment of Mr Carl Henschke as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 1 July 2024.

Mr Henschke brings over 17 years of experience in financial services, capital markets and legal sectors to BetMakers. He began his career as a solicitor in the corporate team at Herbert Smith Freehills, and for the past decade, he has worked as an investment banker. Most recently he served as Managing Director at Canaccord Genuity, focusing on software and digital businesses, including those in the wagering and betting sector. Mr Henschke’s expertise encompasses financial planning and analysis, strategy, capital management and M&A.

BetMakers CEO Jake Henson said: “We are delighted to welcome Carl as the company’s new CFO. His extensive financial expertise and deep understanding of high growth technology companies make him an ideal fit for BetMakers. Carl’s experience will be important as we continue to refine our operational efficiencies, expand our global presence, and enhance shareholder value.”

Advertisement