NSW GAMING INSPECTORS CONTINUE TO CHECK PUBS AND CLUBS
Liquor & Gaming NSW continue with their initiative that seeks to ensure that pubs and clubs in NSW are compliant with existing regulations and commit to responsible gambling and gambling harm prevention & minimisation.
This announcement comes as a part of a sweeping reform in the state and the country with regulators toughening their stance on gambling venues and seeking to ensure that consumers are protected. The “Targeted Compliance Program,” as the measure is known, has already been going on for some time.
Liquor & Gaming NSW has launched a further 500 inspections to determine if licensed venues are providing a service that focuses on harm minimization. The checks are comprehensive, and they look at how these venues operate their gambling businesses and other combined services.
One main focus is the placement of ATMs, their positioning, and the overall layout of the venue. For example, one thing that inspectors want to see is if licensed venues are making their guests go through the gambling areas prior to accessing the bar, for example. Liquor & Gaming NSW has reiterated its hardline stance and said that any venue discovered in breach of existing regulations and law would be acted against in due course.
Additionally, Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) has reiterated its tough stance on credit card gambling criticising the discovery of two Sydney venues that were facilitating gambling on credit by offering credit withdrawals from ATMs located on the premises.
Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations & Enforcement Jane Lin said that harm-minimisation measures are an absolute priority, and they are there to ensure a safe gaming industry that limits the opportunity for consumers to fall into bad habits or suffer from the hobby.
“Our compliance program is all about promoting a culture of safer gambling and protecting patrons and the wider community from problems associated with excessive gambling,” Lin explained.
Infringements will be punished with penalties of up to $5,500 and they will be applied as seen fit by the regulator in those cases that entail a punishment.
In previous inspections, Liquor & Gaming NSW reported 875 inspections have been carried out. The result was that 77 penalty notices were handed down to gambling venues for failing to meet the standards outlined by the regulator.
