Liquor & Gaming NSW has kicked off a compliance blitz on new gaming harm minimisation measures, ahead of additional training requirements coming into force for senior staff of licensed venues.

Inspectors visited 528 hotels and clubs across NSW in July and August to ensure venues were complying with new requirements relating to Responsible Gaming Officers (RGOs), gambling incident registers, ATM signage and Gaming Plans of Management (GPOM).

The operation comes amid new requirements for senior staff to undertake training to ensure venue leaders can support a culture of gaming harm minimisation.

The new requirements are part of the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver evidence-based reform that helps prevent gambling harm and money laundering, and supports local communities and jobs.

Venues have shown a readiness to adopt the additional harm minimisation requirements, with inspections since 1 July finding 93 per cent of venues are complying with new measures required since that date. The majority of breaches found related to new ATM signage requirements.

Inspectors are continuing their work across the state to ensure industry is aware of its obligations and are complying with the new requirements as they come into effect.

Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations Jane Lin said the new requirements were an important next step in minimising gambling harm.

“Inspectors re focusing on Gaming Plans of Management to ensure they have the required content included, as well as testing that the policies and procedures in the plan are being adhered to.

“It’s important that venues not only have a plan prepared, but ensure their staff are aware of the contents and are checking to make sure it is being complied with.”

The new requirements are part of the government’s commitment to deliver an evidence-based reform that reduces gambling harm, stops money laundering, and supports local communities and jobs.

Under the new rules, club secretaries, club directors, hotel licensees, hotel managers and staff who are responsible for the management of gaming operations will all be required to undertake training on the practical skills to identify and proactively intervene when patrons are showing signs of gambling harm.

As part of a suite of gambling reforms, licensed venues have recently been required to:

-maintain and conduct monthly reviews of a Gambling incident register from 1 July 2024, that records instances of potential or actual gambling harm identified in the venue

-introduce RGOs into hotels and clubs with more than 20 gaming machine entitlements from 1 July 2024

-create and maintain a Gaming Plan of Management from 1 September 2024, and update at least annually.

From 1 January 2025, ATMs must be located outside of a five-metre radius of any entrance or exit of a gaming area in a hotel or club.

Venues that cannot comply with this requirement can seek an exemption from L&GNSW in some circumstances.

BetMakers Technology Group has announced that it has signed a new racing data and content distribution agreement with Sports Information Services Limited (SIS).

Under the agreement, BetMakers will deliver SIS race data and video content to approved SIS customers and affiliates in Australia and New Zealand via integration with BetMakers’ bookmaker technology platforms, including websites, mobile apps and pricing applications.

The agreement will give BetMakers’ bookmaker clients in the region who also use SIS data and audio-visual services access to video and data for horse racing from the UK and Europe, the Middle East and the Americas and to greyhound racing from the UK and Ireland.

BetMakers CEO Jake Henson said: “We are pleased to extend our longstanding working relationship with SIS to deliver content and data services to BetMakers’ bookmaker solution clients in Australia and New Zealand. Close integration with partners like SIS allows BetMakers to offer our End-to-End Platform, Embedded Solution and API clients the racing and betting content they demand and to ensure that our solutions continue to deliver the broadest suite of global racing products to heighten player engagement.”

SIS MD, EMEA, Paul Witten, said: “Australia is one of the largest international racing wagering markets and our partnership with BetMakers enables SIS customers to receive a tailored product that suits their local market needs. We are pleased to assist our racetrack partners in ensuring broad distribution continues and look forward to working with BetMakers over the course of the agreement to deliver growth for those partners.”

Leading gambling law and regulation conference Regulating the Game, to be held from 10 to 13 March 2025 in Sydney, has announced Dr Marla Royne Stafford as its first Conference Chair for the event.

Chairing a day of the conference provides an opportunity for industry professionals and regulators to offer unique insights and perspectives, steward the conversation to highlight critical points and stimulate an exchange of ideas and discussions.

Dr Stafford is Professor of Marketing in the Lee Business School at University of Nevada-Las Vegas. She is also a Faculty Scholar with the UNLV International Gaming Institute, Director of Research for the Cannabis Policy Institute and past Executive Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Harrah College of Hospitality.

She is a past William F. Harrah Distinguished Chair, a member of the Board of Advisors for the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling and is currently serving as a guest editor for an upcoming special issue of the UNLV Gaming Research and Review Journal. She is an expert in the responsible gambling arena and her work includes projects with the American Gaming Association and AMZC Limited.

“I am deeply honored and excited to serve in this leadership role at the 2025 Regulating the Game Conference. The Conference is one of the premier annual events in the gaming world, featuring thought leaders and stimulating important discussions in a fast-moving industry. It is truly a privilege to be part of the organizing committee and help advance the needed conversations in policy, regulation, leadership, ethics and the future of the industry,” Dr Stafford said.

Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch, said: “The fact that we are attracting such distinguished figures to Chair a day of Regulating the Game is a clear testament to the conference’s expanding influence and significance in the industry. It’s an exciting time as we continue to bring together the brightest minds to shape the future of gambling regulation.”

Regulating the Game is looking for more candidates to Chair in 2025, specifically seasoned professionals with experience in the gambling sector and regulation, compliance, policy or related fields. The event provides regulators, industry executive or thought leaders this the chance to make a significant impact at one of the industry’s most influential events.