Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) inspectors have visited 335 venues across metropolitan Sydney over the past two months as part of a compliance campaign to monitor the rollout of recent gaming reforms and assess frontline capability in identifying gambling harm.
Inspectors spoke directly with 487 staff working in gaming machine areas, testing their understanding of responsible gambling obligations and reinforcing the practical application of the new measures introduced between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025.
The reforms require clubs and hotels to implement Responsible Gambling Officers, maintain Gambling Incident Registers, adopt Gaming Plans of Management, complete Advanced Responsible Conduct of Gambling training, and comply with updated signage and visibility rules for cash dispensing facilities and gaming areas.
Since October last year, L&GNSW has issued 11 fines statewide for breaches relating to ATMs located within five metres of gaming area entrances or exits. On Christmas Eve, a statutory direction was issued preventing a Sydney hotel from operating cash dispensing facilities until its ATM was compliant.
Executive Director of Regulatory Operations Dimitri Argeres said the campaign focused on strengthening frontline capability while reinforcing compliance standards. “Frontline gaming staff play a critical role in identifying indicators of gambling harm and are well placed to engage with patrons and provide support,” he said.
Across all assessment questions, 95% of staff responded correctly. Most demonstrated clear knowledge of the location and purpose of their Gaming Plan of Management and Gambling Incident Register, as well as what information must be recorded. Many described the advanced training programme as informative and interactive.
An independent evaluation of the reforms, led by Ipsos Public Affairs in partnership with CQUniversity, is currently underway. Staff who have completed the advanced training are invited to complete a 10-minute online survey before 18 May 2026 to support the review process.
11 fines have been issued statewide since October over ATM proximity breaches
