Big Tick for Gambling Signage Compliance

A month-long compliance blitz has found nearly 99 per cent of clubs and pubs inspected in NSW are now free of external gambling-related signage, as the Minns Government begins its statewide reform on gaming room advertising.

During the compliance program, Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) inspected over 1100 venues across 35 metropolitan and eight regional Local Government Areas (LGAs). This represents just over 50 per cent of all venues in NSW with an entitlement to hold gaming machines.

These inspections revealed 16 venues with prohibited external signage, which L&GNSW is investigating. This represents an overall compliance rate of almost 99 per cent.

This signage has been found to be triggering for those with gambling-related issues and were banned from 1 September 2023. L&GNSW has directly communicated with industry on the changes, first announced in May, including issuing a compliance position paper and several communications on its website and to venues in the months and weeks leading up to the ban which came into place on 1 September.

Inspectors are currently assessing the instances of prohibited signage identified during the blitz, to determine the cause of delay in removing the signage. Those venues which are not able to produce clear evidence that the delays were caused by factors outside of their control will be fined. L&GNSW inspectors also identified some operators who have put in place signage in what appears to be an attempt to circumvent the restrictions. L&GNSW is investigating this signage and will determine whether further action, including enforcement or administrative action needs to be taken.

L&GNSW has clearly signalled those venues with existing non-compliant signage, or new signage that attempts to circumvent the restrictions in the legislation, will face escalated enforcement action, with a zero-tolerance approach from 1 December 2023. Failure to comply with these requirements carries penalties of up to $11,000, per offence.

“It's great to see industry and government working together to prevent and reduce gambling harm in the community and we will continue to do so.”

Removal of all external signage is just one part of the NSW Government’s broader gaming reform to reduce harm including:

• Reducing the cash input limit from $5,000 to $500 for all new electronic gaming machines from 1 July 2023
• Capping the number of gaming machine entitlements in circulation
• Banning political donations from clubs involved in gaming
• Introducing Responsible Gaming Officers at venues with more than 20 machines
• Expanding a third-party exclusion register to the whole state
• Establishing an independent panel of expert stakeholders including industry, harm minimisation organisations, academics, law enforcement, cyber security and the union movement to oversee the cashless gaming trial and recommend an implementation roadmap for gaming reforms.

“Removing this signage for pubs and clubs is just one part of our commitment to reducing gambling harm in our community and I thank licensees and industry bodies for getting on board,” Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said.

“We have been working positively and proactively with industry associations and venues across the state to educate, inform and support them through this process and ensure this high level of compliance.

“We welcome the positive impact this campaign has had on the exteriors of licensed venues which now solely feature advertisements for a diverse range of offerings such as food and beverage specials, live music and entertainment instead of signs designed to advertise the presence of gaming machines. It makes a noticeable difference to the amenity of our cities and suburbs.

“It's great to see industry and government working together to prevent and reduce gambling harm in the community and we will continue to do so.”