L&GNSW to conduct compliance campaign on gaming machine hours

The regulator will take enforcement action against any venue found not to be complying.

Australia.- The New South Wales regulator, Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) has announced that it will conduct a targeted compliance campaign through the rest of November and into December using Central Monitoring System (CMS) data to identify venues operating gaming machines outside approved hours.

Under the Gaming Machines Act 2001 (the Act), registered clubs and hotels must not operate gaming machines between 4.00am and 10.00am daily, unless a formal variation has been approved by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA). These hours are listed on the liquor licence and cannot be changed even if a six-hour break is maintained.

“The shutdown period is a key gambling harm minimisation measure aimed at reducing risks from prolonged gaming machine use,” said the regulator. All gaming machines are monitored via the CMS, which detects and reports any operation during shutdown hours. 

L&GNSW said that venues found operating gaming machines during shutdown hours may face enforcement action, especially for repeated or serious offences. A Sydney hotel was recently fined for such a breach.

Previous campaigns undertaken by the regulator revealed common causes of non-compliance to include staff clearing credits off machines through play, cleaners or contractors unintentionally activating machines and venues open for alcohol service allowing gaming machines to be operated outside of approved hours.

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See also: Two Sydney hotels fined by L&GNSW for breaking gaming rules

The regulator will take enforcement action against any venue found not to be complying. Australia.- The New South Wales regulator, Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) has announced that it will…