Venue Compliance, Signage and Enforcement
Compliance in the venue
Venue compliance covers signage, layout, machine operation, staff training records, incident registers and self-exclusion registers. Required signage includes problem gambling help information, the odds of winning, the venue's gambling contact officer details, and information about the self-exclusion scheme. Signage must be displayed where patrons can see it, typically near gaming areas and entrances. The incident register must record incidents involving excluded patrons, intoxicated patrons, and harm-related interventions.
Layout rules restrict where gaming machines can be located, limit visibility from outside, and restrict ATMs and cash facilities near gaming areas. Venues must also comply with advertising restrictions and the prohibition on credit. Enforcement is carried out by L&GNSW inspectors, who may enter premises, inspect records, and issue penalty notices or recommend disciplinary action to the Authority.
Traps to watch
Questions often test whether signage must be "visible" versus "displayed" - both matter, but the test is whether a patron can reasonably see and read it. Another trap is assuming the incident register is optional (it is mandatory) or that it only records excluded patrons (it records a broader range of incidents). Watch for the distinction between a penalty notice (issued by an inspector) and disciplinary action (determined by the Authority). Also note that ATMs and cash facilities cannot be located in gaming areas.
Rule of thumb
If a scenario asks "what should the venue have done?", check the compliance triangle: signage displayed, records kept, and staff trained. Most enforcement scenarios fail on one of these three.
Enforcement, Penalties and Regulatory Response
How enforcement works
Enforcement in NSW gaming operates on a graduated scale. Inspectors may issue warnings, penalty notices or infringement notices for minor breaches, and may recommend more serious action to the Authority. The Authority can impose licence conditions, suspend or cancel a licence, or take disciplinary action against licensees and staff. Serious breaches - such as serving an excluded patron, permitting credit for gambling, or failing to maintain records - can attract significant penalties.
The regulatory response is proportionate: the Authority considers the nature and gravity of the breach, the licensee's compliance history, and whether the breach was remedied. Staff can also face consequences, including loss of RCG competency and, in serious cases, prosecution. Venues should have a compliance program that includes regular audits, staff refresher training, and a documented response to incidents.
Traps to watch
A common trap is assuming only the licensee is liable - staff can be individually liable for breaches. Another is confusing suspension with cancellation: suspension is temporary, cancellation ends the licence. Questions also test whether a penalty notice can be contested (it can, through the usual review process). Watch for scenarios where the correct answer is "escalate to the Authority" rather than "handle it internally".
Rule of thumb
Match the response to the gravity of the breach: minor breaches attract warnings and notices; serious or repeated breaches escalate to the Authority for disciplinary action.