Registered clubs are established for sporting, literary, social, political, athletic, or other lawful purposes, and are granted licences that allow them to serve liquor to members and guests.
Club licensing
Clubs have specific licensing requirements unique from that of much of the liquor industry. Liquor & Gaming NSW (‘L&GNSW’) have centralised many of the club-specific licensing and guidance materials.
Access more information via the club licence resource below.
Club Compliance
Clubs are also further regulated by different provisions within the liquor and gaming legislation, as well as by the Registered Clubs Act 1976.
The Registered Club Act 1976 further regulates clubs by compelling certain operation and governance requirements.
Access more information about legislation and the club compliance checklist below.
Gaming Machines
Gaming machines are the most heavily regulated part of your club with state and federal regulators monitoring their operations.
There are complex licensing and compliance, gambling harm minimisation, and anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements which must be met to lawfully operate gaming machines.
Gambling harm minimisation
Most importantly, there are complex responsible gambling practices you must comply with to operate gaming machines. These include voluntary self-exclusion, signage, counselling and support provisions, and various other harm minimisation practices.
Access information about gaming self-exclusion below.
Access information about gaming machine harm minimisation below.
Gaming Machine Operations
Requirements for operating, positioning, licensing, and the management of gaming machines are regulated by L&GNSW.
Access information on gaming machine compliance below.
Anti-Money Laundering & Counter-Terrorism Financing
Gaming Machines are also regulated under federal legislation by the Anti-Money Laundering & Counter-Terrorism Financing legislation. There are strict requirements in place for venues which vary depending on the number of machines you are permitted to operate.
Venues with 15 of less gaming machines must enrol with AUSTRAC, and report suspicious matters, and large transaction to the regulator. Venues with 16 of more gaming machines must develop and adhere to a holistic AML/CTF Program to deter the risk of gaming machines being exploited by criminals.
Access information on AML/CTF obligations below.
TAB and Keno
Wagering through the TAB and public lotteries such as KENO comprise the second largest gaming activity in your club. With compliance requirements spread across resources from L&GNSW, TAB, and Keno, your different enquiries may need to be addressed to different parties.
Contact for KENO specific enquires
Connect for TAB specific enquires
Access information from liqour & Gaming NSW
Other Gambling
Raffles, Blingo and Trade Promotion
Community gaming covers low-risk chance-based games, lotteries, and raffles which are played for charitable, social, not-for-profit, or trade promotion purposes. Community games are regulated by Fair Trading NSW.
There are countless community games which you can operate at your club each with their specific requirements to be run legally.
Access information on community games below.
Poker
Poker can be played at your venue through an external provider or between patrons of their own accord. There are restrictions on when playing for stakes is permitted, when you need a separate dealer or when a player can also be the dealer for a hand and running tournaments. L&GNSW is the regulator of all gambling in NSW which includes poker.
Access the poker factsheet below.
Two-up
Two-up is a gambling activity, unlawful at all times of the year except on ANZAC day and special commemorative days as approved in legislation, or at any time in Broken Hill under a special licence. Liquor & Gaming NSW is the regulator of two up in NSW.
Access the two-up factsheet below.