Top clubs boss Peter Newell is facing calls to resign after a damning investigation finds his NSW club used alcohol and cash advances disguised as purchases of up to $40,000 to lure in gamblers.
A pokies venue headed by Australia’s top clubs boss used free alcohol and large cash advances disguised as purchases to induce gamblers to spend more, according to damning findings by the independent regulator.
Clubs Australia president Peter Newell, who is also the chairman of influential industry group Clubs NSW, chairs the Illawarra District Rugby League Club, or Steelers, which has been fined $100,000, plus almost $30,000 in costs.
SBS News can also reveal the disciplinary penalty is the largest fine issued to a registered club since the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority was established a decade ago.
Scott Miles, Steelers’ former club secretary and general manager, who it was found directed staff to undertake the offences to "make sure people are coming in the doors", has also been given the industry's first lifetime ban from any officeholder role.
The Authority's found the the conduct by of senior staff, led by Mr Miles, was a "serious" and "systemic" contravention of rules limiting the harms of gambling.
"There are financial benefits and consumer harms posed by unlawfully incentivising gamblers and obscuring credit transactions," it said.
Staff described running through “false EFTPOS transactions disguised as legitimate sales” for amounts ranging up to $40,000 so punters could access more cash to pump through the club’s pokies.
“It started a long, long time ago with some of our Asian clientele,” doorman James Summerrell told inspectors, adding that he was urged on by Mr Miles because “we can’t afford to lose this kind of patron, we need to keep doing what we’re doing”.
