The Hellenic Club of Canberra has been fined $1.2 million and reprimanded for breaking gambling law after a regular of its poker machines took his own life.
According to The Canberra Times, Raimo “Ray” Kasurinen died by suicide at his home on March 31, 2020. His car had just been repossessed and he was deeply in debt after he and his wife had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Hellenic Club machines.
Following an investigation that commenced over four years ago, the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission has handed down its decision.
The club will have to pay “financial penalties totalling $1,200,000”, according to a letter sent to Kasurinen’s daughter.
They will also receive a “reprimand that will be a public warning against any further misconduct”.
Kasurinen’s son-in-law David Chambers said he had made the initial complaint to the Gambling Commission because he believed the way the Hellenic Club operated “caused the financial collapse and suicide of Ray Kasurinen in 2020”.
The family said they repeatedly told staff at the club that Kasurinen and his now widow were falling into deeper debt as they continued to spend money on the poker machines.
According to their daughter, bank statements over the years show that $345,597.67 was spent in the Hellenic Club gaming machines.
The statements also showed that the couple withdrew hundreds of dollars in $200 batches over less than two minutes from an eftpos machine at the club, which the family alleged that this meant the staff broke rules meant to limit gambling addicts losses.
The investigation recently concluded, concerned the recording of problem gambling incidents in the gambling incident register and compliance with regulations relating to limits on the amount of money that could be withdrawn by club patrons via EFTPOS.
Neos Kosmos reached out to The Hellenic Club for comment and they said they were disappointed with the decision and would seek a review.
“The Hellenic Club has given its full co-operation to the Commission. The Hellenic Club is disappointed with the Commission’s decision to take disciplinary action against the Hellenic Club,” CEO Ian Cameron said in a statement.
“The Hellenic Club has immediately commenced an application for a review of the decision in the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Given those ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Hellenic Club to comment any further on the substance of the Commission’s decision.
“In the meantime, the Club will continue to serve its members, guests and the broader ACT community with commitment, fairness and integrity.”
According to The Canberra Times, the club denied responsibility for the death, saying claims that there was “any indication of potential gaming harm to him or them are unfounded”.
The family said that Mr and Mrs Kasurinen would play the pokies sometimes until just before dawn and staff would encourage them to stay by offering free food and drinks.
Their daughter Vanessa said that she emailed the club on March 20, 2020.
“I request the following from the Hellenic Club: to immediately cancel my parents’ VIP status. To no longer invite my parents to the club for free meals or other special offers that encourages their gambling addiction. To stop allowing my mother to withdraw money from behind the cashier counter.”
However they kept going, with Mrs Kasurinen saying she would withdraw money before visiting or with two different accounts at the Hellenic Club.
