With an ever-changing regulatory landscape, keeping up to date with new legislation and guidance materials can be a complex task. ClubsNSW connects you to the relevant regulator, providing you with the most current and accurate information regarding all aspects of Club compliance.
ClubSAFE Premium
To assist you in meeting the various requirements enforced upon your premises, Clubs NSW offers ClubSAFE Premium membership.
ClubSAFE Premium is a responsible gambling and compliance program design to assist members in meeting best practice compliance outcomes and providing a safe environment for patrons.
Access information on ClubSAFE Premium
Club licence, legislation, and compliance
Registered clubs are established for sporting, literary, social, political, athletic, or any other lawful purpose and are subsequently granted licences to allow them to serve liquor to members and guests.
Clubs vary from other licensed premises, whereby the licence must be held by the club itself as a corporate licensee. The club must appoint a secretary who also acts as the manager of the liquor licence.
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.
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.
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.
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 on self-exclusion Access Harm Minimisation Information
Requirements for operating, positioning, licensing, and the management of gaming machines are regulated by L&GNSW.
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
ClubSAFE have developed the following AML/CTF guidance materials to support your club in ensuring best practice throughout your operations.
Maintaining Board Oversight Vetting AML/CTF Advisers Conducting Enhanced Customer Due Diligence
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 enquiries Contact for TAB specific enquiries Access information from Liquor & Gaming NSW
Other Gambling
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.
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.
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.