Over the last seven months, the New South Wales Liquor and Gaming Authority has levied 77 penalties for violations of gambling rules.
These penalties were imposed following 875 examinations of pubs and clubs statewide. The regulatory body also initiated legal proceedings in three instances.
The inspections marked the initial phase of the Liquor and Gaming Authority’s “focused compliance program” to assess whether establishments had implemented specific measures to minimize gambling-related harm.
Jane Lin, the Liquor and Gaming Authority’s Executive Director of Operations and Enforcement, stated that while most venues adhered to regulations, inspectors still uncovered “significant problems.”
Inspectors discovered that some establishments had positioned ATMs in areas where gambling machines were situated, which contravenes the regulations.
Pubs and clubs were frequently observed to be primarily gambling establishments, such as operating solely a gambling zone or having the bar situated within the gambling area. At certain venues, patrons were required to traverse the gambling area to access other sections of the establishment.
Lin highlighted that the objective of the gaming harm mitigation measures is to safeguard the gaming sector and avert gambling-related damages. Non-compliance with these mandates will lead to penalties of up to $5,500 and will serve as grounds for disciplinary action.
“Our adherence program endeavors to foster a more secure gambling environment, shielding patrons and the broader community from the detrimental effects of excessive gambling.”
The subsequent stage of the program will entail an additional 500 examinations at pubs and clubs in New South Wales. The regulatory body stated that it will adopt a “zero tolerance” stance towards any infractions of the state’s responsible gambling regulations.
“Our examiners will also be scrutinizing any gambling signage during these assessments and are willing to provide information and address any inquiries that venue operators may have regarding the signage prohibition that takes effect on September 1,” Lin stated.
The NSW Liquor & Gaming Authority has issued a caution to all venues in the state to be cognizant of ATM operations and, subsequent to inspections, has requested that they ensure no ATMs are installed that enable credit card withdrawals. This aligns with the Gaming Machines Act 2001 and follows the discovery of two such machines at two distinct locations in Sydney.
The regulatory body instructed the Wentworth Hotel in Homebush to eliminate the credit card withdrawal functionality from its ATM.
A patron removed approximately two thousand Australian dollars from their credit card account for gaming pursuits, which ignited a grievance.
The New South Wales Liquor & Gaming Authority has directed the Earlwood Hotel to eliminate credit card access from its machines and has requested the establishment to remove promotional materials for the hotel’s gambling facilities from its ATM screens.
Lin stated that the regulatory body has been interacting with the gambling sector to ensure venues adhere to its responsible gambling regulations.
“These stipulations are intended to curtail gambling-related damage. Credit card limitations are a fundamental measure to prevent individuals from encountering difficulties,” Lin remarked.
“We have intensified our enforcement of these stipulations, encompassing prosecuting violations, issuing statutory directives or employing other administrative remedies to address non-compliance, to safeguard our community. Inspectors are actively assessing credit card withdrawal functionality at licensed establishments.”
Earlier this month, a New South Wales government-funded research project was unveiled that discovered a connection between late-night electronic gaming machine play and problematic gambling. The study cautioned against late-night pokies play.
The report concluded that individuals with gambling issues constitute the majority of late-night pokies patrons.
A significant portion of individuals who utilized machinery during the early morning hours, between the hours of 2 am and 8 am, encountered adverse consequences.
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