Mansfield Park Hotel will plead guilty to pokies law breaches rather than go to trial, court told
The first SA hotel to ever be charged with letting its patrons withdraw too much money to play the pokies has told a court it will plead guilty to the allegations, rather than go to trial.
Law and Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law and Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Landmark case: Hotel prosecuted over pokies cash withdrawals
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
A western suburbs hotel will plead guilty to landmark charges of allowing pokies patrons to withdraw too much cash, a court has heard.
On Tuesday, counsel for the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner and Matthews Hospitality said they were “confident” the first-of-its-kind case would resolve without trial.
The indication came just hours after The Advertiser revealed the company faced a fine of up to $280,000 if convicted of the offences.
However, an early confession could see the company spared up to 40 per cent of that penalty, under the state’s controversial guilty plea discount laws.
The allegations relate to alleged incidents at the Mansfield Park Hotel, on Grand Junction Rd at Mansfield Park.
It has been charged with eight counts of providing cash facilities to obtain an amount exceeding the legislated limit.
The venue’s hospitality operations manager, Shaun Seymour Matthews, has been charged with four counts of failing to exercise due diligence and prevent the offending.
Under state law, the maximum withdrawal per day and per card is $200.
It is further alleged that one person took out $400 while, in a separate incident, another patron
withdrew $250 and, 48 minutes later, obtained another $250.
The hotel is one of 12 SA venues operated by Matthews Hospitality, which has licences to run 243 gaming machines across seven of those locations.
On Tuesday, the case was heard in the Adelaide Magistrates Court – Shaun Matthews did not attend the hearing.
Zoe Thomas, for the Commissioner, asked the matter be listed in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court instead.
“This is the first mention date and it was supposed to be in Port Adelaide, we’re not sure why it’s been listed here,” she said.
“We are looking to set another hearing date, and it is likely there will be a plea … the parties have been in discussions, and the plea itself will not be lengthy at all.”
Counsel for Matthews Hospitality agreed, saying they were eager to preserve their clients’ potential 40 per cent sentencing discount.
“Our clients are not here today but, yes, we are fairly certain there will be a plea,” they said.
“We just need further time to continue negotiations, however we are confident it will resolve.”
Magistrate Elizabeth Sheppard said the matter could remain in Adelaide, given the indication of a plea, and adjourned the case for three weeks.