source : the age
A government agency is investigating a Bossley Park club following revelations a de facto partner of one of its directors was a member of the high roller room while receiving government benefits, and a second agency is considering reopening its previous probe.
Patricia Zalavros, 62, has continued to frequent the Diamond Suite, an exclusive gaming lounge at Club Marconi restricted to players whose turnover is at least $500,000 per year, after it was revealed she was also a welfare recipient and public housing tenant.
Homes NSW confirmed it has launched a full investigation into her circumstances, while Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) is assessing revelations in the Herald last week to consider whether to open a fresh investigation.
But a ban on VIP gaming programs announced by the NSW government on Tuesday will cripple the business model for the Diamond Suite, where access is based on loyalty points accrued through gaming. Such a measure would require the support of both houses and may not pass parliament this term.
Gaming Minister David Harris said on Tuesday the government was concerned about Club Marconi’s high-roller room following revelations in the Herald.
“It’s already illegal in NSW to induce people to gamble,” Mr Harris said.
“We think some of these programs have been sailing very close to the wind and that’s what we’ll be cracking down on. Clearly, people were very upset, including myself, to see those sorts of programs in operation, and we will be ending that.”
Club Marconi chief executive Matthew Biviano said the club was aware the government’s gaming reform package proposed to end the use of VIP programs linked to gambling.
“Club Marconi is committed to remaining compliant with all legislative and regulatory obligations and will comply with any changes that are introduced,” Biviano said.
The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority [ILGA] has already banned Club Marconi’s previous chief executive, Tony Zappia, from holding office for a year after finding he had authorised the payment of a fraudulent invoice.
Last month, it banned Seven Hills RSL director Joseph Bayssari for five years after finding he had accepted undisclosed payments from club suppliers.
However, he has continued his employment at the club. L&GNSW is investigating why the board did not sack him after he admitted to receiving benefits a year before ILGA banned him.
Club Marconi’s board includes Morris Licata, who was found by an independent investigation to have engaged in “excessive spending” on the club’s dime; Dean Zonta, who allegedly threatened a staff member that he was connected to organised crime and people “better not f—” with him; and Angelo Ruisi, the chair of the gaming committee, the de facto partner of high roller pensioner Patricia Zalavros.
