Pub owner Thomas Cocking stripped of licence after allegedly playing Keno at own hotel

A country pub owner is fighting to regain his licence after authorities accused him of playing a game of Keno and getting his daughter to claim the $11k win.

Licensees and key staff are banned from gambling at their own venues.

A country pub owner is fighting to regain his licence after authorities accused him of playing – and winning – a game of Keno.

Thomas Cocking of The Royal Hotel in Manilla, northwest of Tamworth, was this week stripped of his licence after an investigation by the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA).

Mr Cocking, who denies the claims, is accused of playing Keno while on the job, and winning $11,328 before asking his daughter to claim the money.

Under NSW laws, licensees or key staff are banned from gambling at their venues.

The gaming watchdog declared in its judgment that Mr Cocking would be disqualified for holding a licence or managing a licensed premises.

Thomas Cocking has been stripped of his license after allegedly playing Keno white on duty at The Royal Hotel.

The move followed an investigation by The Lottery Corporation that allegedly found Mr Cocking engaged in Keno credit betting – placing bets without making immediate payment – while at the hotel on duty as the licensee on July 16 in 2022.

Investigators allege that after winning $11,328 Mr Cocking “recruited his daughter to claim the winning ticket” from Keno on his behalf.

The Lottery Corporation removed the Keno facilities from the hotel and terminated the hotel’s Keno Agency Deed on August 17 the same year, ILGA said.

It said The Lottery Corporation investigation report also detailed two previous allegations of noncompliance at the hotel involving Mr Cocking and Keno bets in 2017 and 2021.

It said the numbers Mr Cocking selected which won in 2022 were the “same numbers as the alleged offending from 2017 and 2021”.

Authorities issued a “show cause” notice to Mr Cocking in August.

“Mr Cocking’s conduct falls well below the standard of behaviour expected of a licensee

and raises serious concerns about his fitness and propriety to hold a liquor licence,” the judgment said.

“His behaviour also demonstrates a significant failure to understand and comply with the

legislation.

“We are of the view that Mr Cocking does not have the requisite character to hold a liquor

licence and disciplinary action is warranted.”

Mr Cocking denied any wrongdoing, telling The Saturday Telegraph that he had engaged lawyers and would be fighting the judgment.

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Originally published as Pub owner Thomas Cocking stripped of licence after allegedly playing Keno at own hotel