Kelly Ann Glover in court for Gambling Act violation

A woman who was a supervisor at an RSL club with one of the largest pokies empires in Queensland, has been sentenced for failing to stop a known gambling addict from going into gaming rooms.

A woman working for an RSL club which oversees a major hospitality and gambling empire across the Fraser Coast and Moreton regions, has been sentenced for a Gambling Act breach.

Kelly Ann Glover was a supervisor at the Hervey Bay RSL, the commercial arm of which not only operates its own significant gaming facility at its Pialba site but is also the Bayswater Hotel (owner of the neighbouring Salt Cafe), Clubhouse Hervey Bay, and the 150-poker machine strong Club Burpengary.

Hervey Bay Magistrates Court heard Glover failed to stop a self-reported gambling addict from entering the club’s gaming rooms.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of failing in obligation to prevent a person from entering or remaining in licenced premises or gaming machine area.

Kelly Ann Glover leaves Hervey Bay Magistrate Court on January 22, 2024.

Litigator Will Slack, representing the Queensland Office of Liquor and Gambling Regulation, told the court that on November 17, 2023, a self-excluded patron entered the Hervey Bay RSL and Glover subsequently received a notification on her Apple Watch about their presence.

Self-exclusion occurs when an individual asks a gambling venue to ban them from the venue or a gambling activity offered at the venue.

Mr Slack told the court Glover “knew he was prohibited” and “failed in her duty” to remove the individual from the Torquay Road club.

On November 21 she was interviewed by a regulation official to whom she denied the offence.

By the court hearing on February 22 however, she had pleaded guilty at “the first opportunity”.

“I have completely exited the hospitality sector since the incident and now work at NAB in customer service earning about $700 per week,” she told the court, adding “when I was hired, I was hired as a floor manager, not a supervisor”.

“I was rushed into the role and did not receive proper training for the position,” she said.

Glover told the court she did not have enough training.

She also disagreed with Mr Slack’s assertion she had received the notification on her Apple Watch.

“I received the notification about him on my phone which I did not have on me.”

Despite this claim, she was pleading guilty “to get it over and done with and to move on with my life” the court heard.

This statement concerned Mrs McGarvie who adjourned proceedings for a short period so the parties could reclarify the facts.

After a short break, Mr Slacks and Glover agreed to keep the facts unchanged.

Mrs McGarvie told Glover “it is important floor managers are ensuring the Gambling Act is being enforced”.

“This patron made the serious choice to outline them as vulnerable and deserve support,” she said

Mrs McGarvie decided not to convict Glover saying “it would unfairly impact her new career at NAB”.

Earlier, Glover had previously told the court “a conviction could hamper my career progression.”

Instead, she was fined $1000 and ordered her to pay the Department of Liquor and Gambling Regulation’s legal costs which came to $1500.

Both fines were referred to SPER for collection.

Along with its gambling-linked businesses, the Hervey Bay RSL Group also owns Esplanade dining venue SeaBar 469, the recently opened tourist and family attraction Hervey Bay minigolf and plans to develop an upscale residential unit complex at 517 the Esplanade, Urangan. 

The Hervey Bay RSL wants to demolish the old Hervey Bay Motel site and build upscale units instead.

It is a sponsor of numerous community and sporting groups and over the years has maintained its plethora of poker machines play a major role in its ability to give back.

When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the business said “the Hervey Bay RSL Club appreciates the efforts that regulators (OLGR) have undertaken to ensure all standards are upheld in relation to gaming”.

“The Club fully supports these standards,” they said.

“Hervey Bay RSL Club places a high priority on training and ensures that all staff are properly trained.

“We aim to provide the safest, most welcoming environment for all Club patrons.”