August 26, 2026 — 5:00amThe state gaming regulator is investigating the board of a western Sydney RSL club for allowing its general manager to remain in his position after he admitted to receiving kickbacks and for continuing to employ him after he was banned from holding office.Seven Hills RSL general manager Joseph Bayssari was found to have received undisclosed weekly payments from a club contractor that amounted to more than $280,000 over a period of four-and-a-half years, as well as free food and hospitality, forgiven rent, gift cards and home renovations.Joseph Bayssari continues to work at Seven Hills RSL after admitting to receiving corrupt payments.Andrew QuiltyThe Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority [ILGA] also found that he had awarded catering contracts to his son’s company without a transparent tender process and accepted $35,000 in cash without a legitimate explanation.It fined him $11,000 and banned him from holding a position as a club office holder for five years. He stepped down as the club secretary on August 3.Liquor and Gaming NSW [L&GNSW] is looking into the board’s actions in allowing Bayssari to continue as general manager despite possibly learning as early as 2022 that allegations had been made against him.ILGA noted in its disciplinary findings that Bayssari made key admissions in August 2025, including that he had accepted cash and food from a contractor without disclosing those benefits to the board, and did not record conflicts of interest.But Bayssari remained in his position for another year until ILGA banned him from holding office on July 31, having found that he had engaged in behaviour that was “dishonest, not in the best interests of the club and not in good faith”.L&GNSW is also investigating his continued employment at the club three weeks after it handed down its decision.Seven Hills RSL said ILGA had determined an appropriate sanction on Bayssari “after much deliberation”.“His present employment with the club complies with the authority’s orders made against Bayssari. In deference to the authority’s decision, we have no further comment to make at this time,” the club said.The decision by L&GNSW to pursue to the board for Bayssari’s failings follows revelations that the board of Club Marconi in Bossley Park stood by its president, Morris Licata, after an independent investigation by a former assistant police commissioner found he had excessively spent on the club’s dime and engaged in conflicts of interest.Licata made no admissions, and L&GNSW investigated the matters and decided this year to take no further action.Bayssari was appointed general manager of Seven Hills RSL in 2003, having started his employment with the club eight years earlier. He oversaw the expansion of the club to include Pennant Hills Bowling Club and Penrith Golf Club, as well as renovations of the club’s own premises.Bayssari’s family has also profited from the club through their stake in its on-site restaurant Fitzroy Lane, which is owned by Bayssari’s sons through various companies.The bistro was launched in 2023 as part of a $30 million renovation that took place over several years including through COVID. Bayssari told Club Management magazine after the launch that the planning and effort had been “well worth it”.L&GNSW said it had investigated catering arrangements involving Mr Bayssari’s sons and Fitzroy Lane Group Pty Ltd.“That investigation identified alleged governance and conflict of interest issues relating to the award of the catering contract. Those allegations were part of the disciplinary complaint subsequently made against Mr Bayssari,” a spokeswoman said.The disciplinary decision published by ILGA stated that Bayssari admitted in 2025 to not declaring certain interests, while expressing remorse and claiming there had been no financial detriment to the club or its members. He declared that the directors and executives had since completed governance training to prevent such an event from recurring.Bayssari’s legal team also alleged that a L&GNSW senior investigator had displayed “reprehensible and unethical behaviour” by sharing evidentiary material including hearsay evidence with NSW Police and the Australian Taxation Office. The officer had “coached or assisted” a witness in the construction of his statements, Bayssari’s lawyers alleged.But L&GNSW countered that Bayssari had failed to explain why he kept $35,000 in cash in a safe for more than a year, why he solicited $70,000 for “rent” during the COVID-19 shutdown, why he received $15,000 and whether it was coerced and used to pay for a Ford Focus and the circumstances of a $14,340 payment for his children’s home renovations.Bayssari had significant influence in the clubs industry as vice president of the Club Managers Association of Australia [CMAA], which acts as a trade union for club managers and runs courses through its training arm, Club Management Development Australia.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.From our partners