From 1 July, operators must submit their regulatory returns every quarter, with the new reporting period ending in September, warns licensing law firm Poppleston Allen

The Gambling Commission has made good on its March promise to introduce a new condition on licence holders, which began on Monday.

Under the new condition, all licensees must submit regulatory returns on a quarterly basis, and within 28 days of the end of each quarter.

Any previous returns that included the 30th June 2024, will now fall due on either the 28th July or the 11th August 2024 – depending upon the operating licence – and the new reporting period starts today and will run until 30 September 2024.

Going forward, all operating licences will be harmonised, and the regulatory returns will be due within 28 days of the end of the quarterly period with the July to September 2024 return being due on the 28th October 2024.

Felix Faulkner, solicitor for Poppleston Allen, said: “We advised all licence holders back in March to be aware of this new change, coming into effect this summer. It behoves all licensees to make sure the appropriate teams are abreast of their obligations and that all the ducks are in a row ahead of the 28 July due date.”

Operators must make sure they are aware of this change, as although regulatory returns are largely an administrative function of holding an operating licence, the failure to file them with the Commission could result in enforcement penalties.

Pubs and clubs in New South Wales with gaming machines are now required to comply with important new measures intended to embed a culture of harm minimisation in venues to support people at risk of gambling harm.

Venues with more than 20 gaming machines now need to have a dedicated Responsible Gambling Officer (RGO) on duty while gaming machines are in operation.

Under the changes, licensed venues are also banned from placing any signage or advertising relating to gaming machines either on, or visible from, an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) or EFTPOS terminal.

Any sign that advertises or gives direction to ATMs or EFTPOS terminals will also not be allowed to be visible from a gaming machine or any part of a gaming area.

Venues will be given a month’s grace period to ensure they are compliant with the new ATM signage rules before enforcement activity commences in August.

The NSW Government has consulted industry and stakeholders on the new requirements.

Venues will be responsible for identifying and training suitable staffs to fulfil the role of Responsible Gambling Officers, who will help identify and support patrons displaying concerning gambling behaviour, make referrals to gambling support services and facilitate requests for self-exclusion.

The number of officers required to be on duty will be scaled depending on the number of gaming machine entitlements a venue has.

Venues will also be required to keep a Gambling Incident Register to record details of occurrences including where a patron displays behaviour that indicates they are at risk of, or experiencing gambling harm, and any requests for self-exclusion.

Further changes will be rolled out from 1 January 2025, when all ATMs must:

• Be located at least five metres from the entry to a gaming room or area where gaming machines are located.
• Not be visible from:
  • The entry to a gaming room, or area or room where gaming machines are located.
  • A gaming machine.

Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors have already commenced visiting venues across the state to ensure they are aware of the new 1 July obligations, and will be providing further guidance to industry about the changes that apply from 1 January 2025.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “We know that gaming machines represent the most serious risk of gambling harm, impacting individuals and their loved ones.

“The NSW Government is committed to implementing gambling reform to reduce these harms, including this introduction of Responsible Gambling Officers in pubs and clubs, and changes to the placement and visibility of ATMs in venues.

“Responsible Gambling Officers will work to identify those patrons most at risk, or who are already experiencing gambling harm, check on their wellbeing and help refer them to support services if required.

“Having cash dispensing facilities further away from gaming machines encourages a clean break in play for patrons who may be losing track of what they are spending.

“We’ll be monitoring compliance in these areas closely to see if we need to look at strengthening harm minimisation laws even further.”

Gentoo Media has today announced a new partnership agreement with New Zealand brand, SkyCity, Australasia’s leading gaming, entertainment and hospitality businesses, for the provision of its automated compliance and brand protection tool, GiG Comply.

The agreement will reinforce SkyCity’s commitment to responsible gambling, safeguarding their brand through ensuring regulatory compliance across its various marketing efforts. GiG Comply will allow SkyCity to monitor that its affiliates are following their brand guidelines and regulatory requirements, ensuring that its marketing efforts remain compliant.

The agreement demonstrates both parties’ dedication to upholding the highest standards of compliance and brand protection through monitoring that regulatory requirements are followed and respected. SkyCity will now be able to effectively adapt to the dynamic landscape of the iGaming industry and its ever changing regulatory demands.

Rasmus Bank Nielsen, Head of GiG Comply, said: “We are thrilled to add SkyCity to our growing list of partners for GiG Comply, and we look forward to assisting them with their compliance strategy, safeguarding their brand. We hope our new partnership with SkyCity is the start of a long standing collaboration to strengthen their affiliate marketing compliance, ensuring that they will remain in control of all of their marketing, and are in line with responsible gaming.”

Mads Birch Jespersen, Director of Marketing & Media from SkyCity says: “In a rapidly evolving online casino landscape like New Zealand and given the comprehensive compliance standards that SkyCity is determined to uphold, GiG Comply offers an additional filter for us to meet these standards. The tool allows us to explore and expand our online presence, while keeping everything in line within our regulatory strategy.”