Mum’s despair when she discovered her son, 16, was gambling tens of thousands of dollars in local pubs – forcing her to cash in her super and re-mortgage her house to cover his debts

When a Melbourne mother discovered her 16-year-old son was gambling tens of thousands of dollars, she launched a desperate mission to get him help but was repeatedly turned down.

Last April she contacted more than 30 people and organizations, including gambling helplines, private psychologists, hospital rehabilitation programmes, politician Ged Kearney and activist Tim Costello.

But due to his age and reluctance to stop gambling, no one could offer her help other than to suggest she not give him access to money and take care of herself.

She even considered private rehab, but was put off by the $30,000 cost.

The woman has already had to cash in her pension, remortgage her previously paid off house and take on extra work to cover her son’s gambling debts of more than $95,000.

A Melbourne mother cashed in her superannuation pension, remortgaged her house and took on extra work to cover her son’s more than $95,000 in gambling debts (file photo)

Warned by a mother, the Victorian Casino and Gambling Control Commission has charged multiple gaming establishments in Melbourne’s northern suburbs with allowing a 16-year-old to bet on their establishments and failing to properly supervise electronic gaming machines.

The boy also gained access to online betting platforms.

A Preston hotel was fined $15,000 on Thursday for allowing a teenager to gamble $2,500 on half a dozen occasions in May and September 2022.

Magistrate Carolyn Howe said the responsibility to protect children lay with the venue operator and noted the mother’s enormous efforts to find help.

“It must have been the most frustrating day of her life – with the number of people she came into contact with and asked for help, she got nothing – absolutely nothing,” she said.

A lawyer representing the Preston Hotel and its operator Ben Niall noted that the boy spent less than two to five minutes at a time placing $2,500 worth of bets (ranging from $100 to $760) at the hotel.

The boy frequented the Preston Hotel, spending less than two to five minutes at a time placing $2,500 worth of bets ranging from $100 to $760 (file photo)

According to him, this is a small amount compared to the rest of his gambling in other places.

But Ms Howe said it was the fact that the minor was allowed to gamble for any amount anywhere that contributed to the development of his addiction.

Mr Niall, speaking in court after the sentencing, said no one wanted the young man or others to gamble.

“We can make a profit without preying on children,” he said, noting that he was shocked by what happened at his establishment.

For a time, Tabcorp had been pushing for venues in the northern suburbs to become cashless, requiring bets to be placed using vouchers purchased from employees, in a bid to crack down on underage gambling.

This requirement cost venues revenue and has since been scrapped, but Mr Niall has kept it in place.

Ms Howe said it was because of the steps it took and its previous history of compliance that the Preston Hotel was able to avoid conviction.

The hotel was also ordered to pay $10,300 to cover legal costs on top of the $15,000 fine.