Responsible Gambling Services (RCG) cheat sheet

The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) regulates casinos; Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) regulates hotels, clubs and other gambling venues.

Gaming Machines Act 2001 (NSW) governs poker machine operation in hotels and clubs; Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007 sets the regulator's powers and compliance tools.

Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW) governs casino licensing, special employees and casino operations, administered by the NICC.

Unlawful Gambling Act 1998 (NSW) prohibits gambling not authorised by other NSW gaming legislation.

Gambling harm is defined in NSW law as adverse consequences from gambling for a person, their family, or the wider community, not just financial loss.

The Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) certificate is a mandatory competency for staff who supervise or operate gambling activities in NSW venues.

Gaming machine entitlements and thresholds (e.g., permitted number of machines, hot-weather shutdown rules) are set by regulation, not by venue discretion.

Penalties for breaches can include monetary fines, licence conditions, suspension, and prosecution; individual staff can also be penalised for RCG failures.

Regulatory reporting: venues must notify L&GNSW of prescribed incidents, changes to key personnel, and certain gaming machine malfunctions.

RCG certificate holders must be on duty whenever gaming machines are in operation, and their certificate must be current and produced on request.

Venues must display prescribed responsible gambling signage, including the NSW Gambling Help line number and information about self-exclusion and counselling.

A gambling signage and information strategy must be in place; staff must be trained in it and know where signage is located.

Minors (under 18) must not enter gaming machine areas or gamble; staff must check identification and remove minors immediately.

Intoxicated patrons must be refused entry to gaming areas and prevented from gambling; intoxication is grounds for exclusion under both liquor and gaming rules.

Venues must not extend credit or cash cheques for gambling, and must not accept bank cards for gambling machine play.

Staff must not encourage patrons to gamble beyond their means, and must intervene when a patron shows signs of problem gambling or distress.

Self-exclusion and venue-initiated exclusion schemes must be supported; excluded patrons must be refused service and removed from gaming areas.

Gaming machine areas must be supervised, with staff able to observe machines and patrons at all times; blind spots are not permitted.

Warning signs include: chasing losses, borrowing money, gambling longer than intended, neglecting work or family, secrecy, mood changes, and repeated requests for cash advances.

Early intervention steps: approach the patron privately, express concern, offer information about help services, and record the interaction per venue procedure.

The NSW Gambling Help line (1800 858 858) provides free, confidential 24/7 counselling and referral; staff should know this number and offer it proactively.

Self-exclusion is a formal agreement; staff must verify exclusion status before allowing entry to gaming areas and must act on breaches.

Venue-initiated exclusion can be used where a patron's behaviour indicates significant harm; it requires documented reasons and notification to the regulator where required.

Harm minimisation measures include pre-commitment tools, machine shutdown periods, and restrictions on advertising and promotions that target vulnerable patrons.

Referral pathways include Gambling Help services, financial counselling, and mental health services; staff should not attempt to counsel patrons themselves.

Staff must record and escalate serious incidents (e.g., threats, self-harm, large losses) to the duty manager and, where required, to the regulator.

Mandatory signage includes: gambling help line, self-exclusion information, house policy on responsible gambling, and warnings about the risks of gambling.

Signage must be clearly visible, legible, and placed in gaming areas, entrances, and cashier points; damaged or obscured signage must be replaced.

The venue's Responsible Gambling Code of Practice and house policy must be available to patrons and staff on request.

Gaming machine areas must be physically separated from other areas, with clear signage at entrances and exits indicating the age restriction.

Compliance audits by L&GNSW may check: RCG certificates, signage, exclusion records, incident logs, and staff knowledge of harm indicators.

Record-keeping requirements include logs of excluded patrons, incidents, staff training, and machine faults; records must be retained for the prescribed period.

Advertising and promotions must not target minors, encourage excessive gambling, or misrepresent the odds or nature of gambling.

Enforcement tools include penalty notices, licence conditions, suspension or cancellation, and referral for prosecution; venues have a right to respond to show-cause notices.

The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) regulates casinos; Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) regulates hotels, clubs and other gambling venues.

Gaming Machines Act 2001 (NSW) governs poker machine operation in hotels and clubs; Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007 sets the regulator's powers and compliance tools.

Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW) governs casino licensing, special employees and casino operations, administered by the NICC.

Unlawful Gambling Act 1998 (NSW) prohibits gambling not authorised by other NSW gaming legislation.

Gambling harm is defined in NSW law as adverse consequences from gambling for a person, their family, or the wider community, not just financial loss.

The Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) certificate is a mandatory competency for staff who supervise or operate gambling activities in NSW venues.

Gaming machine entitlements and thresholds (e.g., permitted number of machines, hot-weather shutdown rules) are set by regulation, not by venue discretion.

Penalties for breaches can include monetary fines, licence conditions, suspension, and prosecution; individual staff can also be penalised for RCG failures.

Regulatory reporting: venues must notify L&GNSW of prescribed incidents, changes to key personnel, and certain gaming machine malfunctions.

RCG certificate holders must be on duty whenever gaming machines are in operation, and their certificate must be current and produced on request.

Venues must display prescribed responsible gambling signage, including the NSW Gambling Help line number and information about self-exclusion and counselling.

A gambling signage and information strategy must be in place; staff must be trained in it and know where signage is located.

Minors (under 18) must not enter gaming machine areas or gamble; staff must check identification and remove minors immediately.

Intoxicated patrons must be refused entry to gaming areas and prevented from gambling; intoxication is grounds for exclusion under both liquor and gaming rules.

Venues must not extend credit or cash cheques for gambling, and must not accept bank cards for gambling machine play.

Staff must not encourage patrons to gamble beyond their means, and must intervene when a patron shows signs of problem gambling or distress.

Self-exclusion and venue-initiated exclusion schemes must be supported; excluded patrons must be refused service and removed from gaming areas.

Gaming machine areas must be supervised, with staff able to observe machines and patrons at all times; blind spots are not permitted.

Warning signs include: chasing losses, borrowing money, gambling longer than intended, neglecting work or family, secrecy, mood changes, and repeated requests for cash advances.

Early intervention steps: approach the patron privately, express concern, offer information about help services, and record the interaction per venue procedure.

The NSW Gambling Help line (1800 858 858) provides free, confidential 24/7 counselling and referral; staff should know this number and offer it proactively.

Self-exclusion is a formal agreement; staff must verify exclusion status before allowing entry to gaming areas and must act on breaches.

Venue-initiated exclusion can be used where a patron's behaviour indicates significant harm; it requires documented reasons and notification to the regulator where required.

Harm minimisation measures include pre-commitment tools, machine shutdown periods, and restrictions on advertising and promotions that target vulnerable patrons.

Referral pathways include Gambling Help services, financial counselling, and mental health services; staff should not attempt to counsel patrons themselves.

Staff must record and escalate serious incidents (e.g., threats, self-harm, large losses) to the duty manager and, where required, to the regulator.

Mandatory signage includes: gambling help line, self-exclusion information, house policy on responsible gambling, and warnings about the risks of gambling.

Signage must be clearly visible, legible, and placed in gaming areas, entrances, and cashier points; damaged or obscured signage must be replaced.

The venue's Responsible Gambling Code of Practice and house policy must be available to patrons and staff on request.

Gaming machine areas must be physically separated from other areas, with clear signage at entrances and exits indicating the age restriction.

Compliance audits by L&GNSW may check: RCG certificates, signage, exclusion records, incident logs, and staff knowledge of harm indicators.

Record-keeping requirements include logs of excluded patrons, incidents, staff training, and machine faults; records must be retained for the prescribed period.

Advertising and promotions must not target minors, encourage excessive gambling, or misrepresent the odds or nature of gambling.

Enforcement tools include penalty notices, licence conditions, suspension or cancellation, and referral for prosecution; venues have a right to respond to show-cause notices.