New South Wales’ Liquor & Gaming division has issued a “zero-tolerance” approach to gaming venues displaying prohibited gaming signage as part of its enforcement of the Gaming Machines Act.
The approach is part of the Australian state government’s third and final stage of a compliance programme targeting prohibited gaming signage displayed at venues across the state, which includes external and internal signage if it can be seen from outside the venue.
Venues breaching the Gaming Machines Act could be handed a maximum penalty of AUS$11,000 per offence. Failing to comply with a statutory direction issued under the Liquor Act can also result in a maximum penalty of $11,000. Both offences could result in disciplinary action.
As of December 1, the regulator began taking escalated enforcement action if necessary. It has already ordered two venues to remove newly installed signage that used “imagery extremely similar to visuals used on electronic gaming machines”.
The Royal Hotel at Granville was issued a statutory direction by government inspectors for large external signs promoting the ‘Mr Choy’s Wok’ hotel restaurant that used similar cartoon imagery to that of the ‘Choy’s Kingdom’ electronic gaming machine.
Inspectors also issued a statutory direction to the Stardust Hotel at Cabramatta due to a digital archway around the external gaming room entrance containing panda animations similar to those used in the ‘Panda Magic’ electronic gaming machine.
Both the Royal Hotel and the Stardust Hotel have complied with their respective statutory direction and have removed the prohibited signage. The Royal Hotel has applied for their direction to be reviewed by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority.
David Harris, Minister for Gaming and Racing, commented: “Any signage that attempts to circumvent the prohibition on gambling-related signage will be met with an escalated enforcement response. This includes the use of animations, symbols or characters commonly associated with gambling, poker machine graphics or gambling franchises.
“Since the ban took effect in September, Liquor & Gaming inspectors have attended over 1,200 venues across 53 local government areas in NSW, including 19 regional LGAs, which represents over 55 per cent of the venues in the state that hold gaming machine entitlements. Inspections have indicated a compliance rate of 99 per cent for external gaming-related signage.
“By now, venue operators should have a full understanding of the requirements and all illegal signage should be removed. Removing this signage is just one important part of our commitment to gambling reform to reduce harm and tackle money laundering head-on in NSW.”
