Earlier this year, a van full of children was discovered in the parking lot of a Sky City Casino. The parents had locked the children inside while they went into the gambling venue to play pokies; fortunately, the children were found before any injuries occurred. For some time, it was thought that the parents would only get off with a warning, but it has just been announced that they will see some more serious repercussions.
The parents are likely to be charged with child endangerment and domestic violence. Both of these crimes carry heavy penalties, but some onlookers believe that more needs to be done.
Neglecting children in exchange for taking part in gambling activities occurs more often that we would like to imagine. According to the Department of Internal Affairs, 46 other children had been left alone while their parents went off to gamble.
While the parents are the ones who are punished, it is believed that casino operators should also take on some of the responsibility. Anti-gambling groups believe that casinos like Star City should be expected to encourage responsible gambling among their patrons, preventing such child neglect crimes from occurring.
