The Earlwood Hotel,owned by the Orion Hotel Group,was also directed to remove the credit function from an ATM last week,as well as to strip material from the ATM screen that allegedly encouraged gaming by referring to the hours that its VIP room was open.
Pubs and clubs with gaming rooms are not permitted to have ATMs that offer credit withdrawals in any part of the premises,as a harm minimisation requirement. The penalty for failing to comply with a directive is a fine of up to $5500.
Liquor and Gaming inspectors visited both hotels twice and were able to withdraw money from credit accounts on each occasion. They remain under investigation.
L&GNSW executive director of regulatory operations and enforcement Jane Lin said the agency had escalated its enforcement of harm minimisation requirements.
“Credit card restrictions are a fundamental measure that exist to stop people getting in over their head,” she said.
It is the second time this year that Iris Capital has attracted the attention of the Liquor and Gaming NSW. In April it was ordered to seal off an internal door that connected the gaming rooms of the Gaslight Inn and The Colombian Hotel in Darlinghurst,effectively creating one giant gaming floor with 55 machines. Hotels are not allowed to own more than 30 machines.