Two year ban for licensee after patron served 22 beers
Former hotel licensee fined $16,500 for Christmas Day pokies offences
Hospitality and Racing leaders visit Tamworth to listen and learn
Annual Liquor Licence Fees (ALLF) for 2024
Bell Inquiry Two
Crown licence reinstated at Sydney casino
New Liquor Incident Registers
New resource for new licensees
Tracey Keegan, former licensee of the Gladstone Hotel in Stockton, has been banned from holding a liquor license for two years. This decision by the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) follows a complaint from Liquor & Gaming NSW after a patron was served the equivalent of over 35 standard drinks in six and a half hours, resulting in unconsciousness on 6 March 2021. Bar staff continued to serve the intoxicated patron without intervention, failing to seek medical help even after multiple falls – behaviour which posed a serious risk of harm to the patron. Despite a transfer of the hotel's liquor licence to a new licensee, Keegan's ban stands. In a separate decision, ILGA imposed CCTV and Plan of Management conditions on the hotel's liquor licence following ongoing complaints of noise, intoxication, and antisocial behaviour.
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A decision to allow patrons to gamble on Christmas Day 2022 has cost a former hotel licensee $16,500. The former licensee of the St George Hotel at Belmore pleaded guilty to 30 offences under the Gaming Machines Act 2001 in Downing Centre Local Court earlier this month, following an investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW. Apart from breaching the state’s gaming laws, operating gaming machines outside of authorised hours can place patrons at greater risk of gambling harm. This follows the licensee of the Royal Inn Hotel at Waratah recently being fined $7,500 for similar offences.
The NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms will be top of the agenda when the Hospitality and Racing Regulatory Roadshow program visits Tamworth this week. Senior executives from Hospitality and Racing will meet with businesses, industry groups and community and Aboriginal representatives on Tuesday 21 May to discuss the government’s liquor and gaming reforms and regulatory priorities. The event will also include a presentation by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner on the government’s Vibrancy Reforms to cut red tape in areas such as noise regulation and boost live music and other entertainment options. The roadshow seeks feedback to better support the unique needs of north-west NSW communities, including input from the Aboriginal community on the liquor and gaming reforms and future initiatives.
The first round of ALLF payment notices were sent via email and SMS on Monday 25 March 2024. Important dates:
It is important to note that payment can only be made using the details on the ALLF fee notice. Please allow 3 working days for funds to be received if making your payment via BPAY.
The second Bell Inquiry into The Star continues, with the final closing submissions being broadcast via livestream on the NICC website. Closing submissions entail counsel assisting and other legal representatives making submissions to Mr Bell SC about what findings should or should not be made in his final report. Mr Bell SC will hand his report to the NICC by 31 July, at which point the NICC will determine next steps for the casino operator.
The NICC has found Crown Sydney suitable to give effect to its licence after nearly three years of remediation work, including an 18-month conditional gaming period. Crown Sydney conducted an impressive transformation of its business, upgrading its processes and systems to maintain compliance and minimise risk, and rebuilding its culture to meet community and regulatory expectations.
Changes have been made to the liquor incident register to provide a more intuitive and user-friendly design. The enhanced reporting features apply to both the physical book register as well as digital incident registers. A grace period to assist industry transition to the new liquor incident register and digital guidelines will be provided until 31 December 2024. The new liquor incident register books can be ordered by visiting the Liquor & Gaming online shop.
A guide for new licensees and approved managers is now available on the Liquor & Gaming NSW website. This guide has been designed to assist the hospitality industry by providing guidance, best practice tips and easy to find information for licensees and approved managers.
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