Past trips have included return airfares to the United States to attend gaming conferences in Las Vegas with side trips to Hawaii or Nashville, all-inclusive food and drink packages, tickets to sporting events and limousine travel.
Aristocrat said in 2023 that it required all clubs that took part in such tours to acknowledge in writing that they were aware of their obligations under the relevant gaming legislation, among other probity requirements.
A Facebook post from one of the club executives from the Las Vegas trip.Credit: Facebook
But the Herald can reveal that an internal audit subsequently determined this process had not been followed in years, and the issue was flagged with the executive team and the board. The company then tightened up its policies on client travel and entertainment.
Aristocrat declined to confirm this week whether it had consistently followed its own rules on study tours.
“Aristocrat co-operated fully with the NSW regulator’s investigation, and ceased offering study tour promotions to customers in NSW in 2024,” a spokeswoman said.
“It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Any adverse findings could have major commercial implications for the gaming machine manufacturers if they are brought to the attention of regulators in Nevada, where they make a lot of their money. Gaming machine manufacturers and distributors need to be found suitable to hold a licence to operate in Nevada, and these licences can be revoked.
Aristocrat’s gaming machines brought in more than half their annual revenue from the United States last financial year.
Gaming Technologies Association chief executive Jinesh Patel said his members had co-operated at all times with the NSW regulator as it conducted its investigation, and it would be inappropriate to speculate on any outcome.
The Liquor and Gaming investigation centred on the 2022 G2E conference in Las Vegas, which included a side trip to New York. Gaming machine manufacturers including Aristocrat, Ainsworth, Konami Australia, LNW, Aruze and IGT sponsored the “study tour” to give their guests an opportunity to admire the latest gaming technology and hobnob with leading lights of the industry.
One bowling club chief executive who attended the tour as a guest of Aristocrat described it as an “incredible networking opportunity” while posting selfies at hockey games, seafood restaurants and outside limousines. When one of his friends suggested it was a junket, he replied, “educational and networking mate”, accompanied by a sly smile emoji.
Another club executive who posted pictures during the trip said he had learnt to order everything small except beers. “Now off to educate myself in a few bars!” he said.
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