Hospitality and Racing News June 2023

An intensive Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) compliance program is underway, targeting venues across the state to ensure gaming machine harm-minimisation requirements are being met. Recent inspections have identified serious concerns, including venues not operating in accordance with their primary purpose, the placement of ATMs in gaming areas, and patrons needing to pass through gaming rooms to access other parts of a venue.

Two venues in Sydney were also recently issued direction to remove the credit card withdrawal function from ATMs at their premises. Under the Gaming Machines Act 2001, hotels or clubs are not allowed to have ATMs or other cash dispensing facilities that allow withdrawal of cash from a credit card account.

L&GNSW inspectors will be visiting venues across metropolitan and regional areas, taking a zero-tolerance approach to breaches.

Read more on the program

Cash input limits and Gaming Machine Entitlement cap lowered as part of NSW gambling reform package

The NSW Government is delivering on its commitment to gambling reform by lowering the cap for poker machine entitlements and reducing the cash input limit on all new machines from 1 July. The changes will see the Gaming Machine Entitlement (GME) cap lowered from 99,000 to 95,994 and the cash input limit on new machines reduced from $5,000 to $500. Both measures have been introduced as part of the NSW Government’s comprehensive reform package to reduce gambling harm and prevent money laundering and criminal activity.

Read more about the reforms

Regulatory Roadshow heading to Bathurst

L&GNSW will deliver the next Regulatory Roadshow in Bathurst on Tuesday 18 July, following the first of the series of regional roadshows in Newcastle last month (watch more here). The roadshows provide an opportunity to share the Government’s current regulatory priorities and hear from stakeholders about their perspectives and challenges.

Read more about our roadshows

First Purple Flag awarded in Western Sydney

Parramatta has become the second district in Australia after YCK (York, Clarence and Kent streets) precinct in Sydney's CBD to receive the internationally recognised Purple Flag accreditation for vibrant, safe and diverse night-time precincts. The accredited area includes more than 80 food and beverage venues with safe access to public transport, a taxi rank and 24-hour car parks.

Read more about the Purple Flag

Applications for the Uptown Accelerator are now open. Uptown is designed to fast-track the formation of local business communities and facilitate the growth of their districts into vibrant going out hubs in line with the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Economy Strategy for Greater Sydney. The series of workshops and mentoring culminates with the Uptown District Showcase where Districts can pitch their vision to potential partners and collaborators.

Read more about the Uptown program

Unibet operator fined $60,000 for illegal advertising

Wagering company Betchoice, trading as Unibet, has been convicted and ordered to pay fines of $60,000 plus costs for offering illegal gambling inducements to NSW residents. The prosecution follows a L&GNSW investigation into the Unibet promotions, which contained inducements to participate in gambling activity and open a betting account in the form of ‘price push’ offers, a form of boosted or special odds.

Find out about the investigation

Same day alcohol delivery age verification options extended

The NSW Government has extended the ability for businesses to use two alternative age verification options for same day alcohol delivery until 31 May 2024. Same day delivery businesses have been required to verify a customer’s age online using an accredited digital identity service provider since 1 June 2022. Due to some businesses experiencing technical issues complying with these requirements, the Government has extended temporary measures to allow three options for providers to verify a customer’s age.

Read about the options

Licensee responsible for compliance of same day alcohol delivery

Compliance testing of online same day alcohol delivery providers continues to be conducted. As part of online delivery law changes introduced in 2021, the responsibility is on the licensee to ensure compliance, including when liquor is bought from a same day provider via a third-party partner website.

Read more

Gaming Machine Entitlements on QuickChange

An improved process for the recording of Gaming Machine Entitlement (GME) leases on QuickChange has been introduced this month. As of the 16 June 2023, liquor licence documents now show GMEs that are leased in and/or leased out. This new process also enables reminder notifications to be sent 90, 60 and 30 days prior to a lease expiring.

Industry warned about going quiet on gambling harm messaging in TV ads

Two betting operators have been issued show cause notices due to irregularities in their TV ads that may have undermined agreed responsible gambling messages. The NSW Government is calling on wagering operators to ensure responsible gambling messages are communicated effectively in advertising.

Read more about responsible gambling messages

External gaming signage to go by September

Venues are reminded to prepare for the revised enforcement approach to external gaming signage requirements that comes into effect on 1 September 2023. Read more for further information on your obligations and details of L&GNSW’s External Gaming Signage Compliance Campaign for hotels and clubs.

Read more about the signage ban

Automatic Mutual Recognition for gaming machine technicians

From 1 July 2023, gaming machine technicians from interstate will be eligible for Automatic Mutual Recognition, allowing them to work in NSW under their existing interstate licence. The aim of the Automatic Mutual Recognition scheme is to make it easier and more affordable for licensed workers to work in other states and territories with a single licence.

To notify of your intention to work in NSW or find out more visit here.

Read more on the scheme