Hawthorn Football Club required to make $66,000 donation for conducting unauthorised gambling

On 23 March 2017, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court ordered Hawthorn Football Club Ltd to comply with a diversion plan after the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation alleged the club had conducted unauthorised gambling at its approved venue trading as Vegas at Waverley Gardens between 28 and 31 March 2016.

Hawthorn's venue operator licence expired on 27 March 2016 and a renewal application was not lodged to enable it to continue to operate pokies at the venue. Hawthorn acknowledged responsibility for four offences of conducting unauthorised gambling (one charge for each day).

The magistrate placed the following conditions on the diversion plan:

• be of good behaviour for a period of 12 months (until 22 March 2018)
  
• donate $66,838 to the Salvation Army or similar responsible gambling organisation.
  

It is understood the $66,838 is the amount players lost at Vegas at Waverley Gardens during the four days.

Download further details from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.