Liquor & Gaming NSW recently completed compliance activities on gaming machine shutdown hours.
Since April, Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) has reviewed 51 venues across Sydney, the Hunter and North Coast, with a further 70 venues currently under assessment. The reviews follow the removal of long-standing exemptions that previously allowed more than 650 pubs and clubs to operate gaming machines during standard shutdown hours.
To date, the operation has resulted in fines being issued to two licensed venues, one official caution and one venue being referred for disciplinary action. However, L&GNSW reported that the majority of reviewed venues were compliant, with 32 venues instead receiving education and compliance support where issues were minor, isolated or caused by exceptional circumstances.
L&GNSW said it is using real-time data analysis, venue inspections and record examinations to identify potential breaches and has indicated compliance monitoring will continue.
What clubs should be doing
With gaming machines required to be switched off between 4am and 10am each day, clubs should review their systems and procedures to ensure they are preventing gaming machines from operating during mandatory shutdown periods.
This includes confirming gaming system settings are configured correctly, reviewing shutdown and restart procedures, and ensuring relevant staff understand and comply with the requirements. Clubs should also maintain appropriate records and periodically check that shutdown processes are operating as intended.
The increased compliance activity serves as a reminder that L&GNSW is actively monitoring venue compliance and that breaches can result in significant regulatory action.
For further information, please contact the ClubAssist team on 1300 730 001 or enquiries@clubssnsw.com.au.
