NSW happy with external gambling signage compliance

A previously revealed and enacted ban on external gambling-related signage near pubs and clubs continues to interest the industry watchdog, Liquor and Gaming NSW, in New South Wales, Australia. Specifically, the regulator is interested in seeing whether the ban has indeed taken effect and whether venues have complied fully with the ordinance.

Out of the 1,100 venues surveyed in the 35 metropolitan and eight regional Local Government Areas, most licensed businesses had complied with the ban. Since September 1, 2023, only 16 businesses were still displaying gambling-related signage, which will now put them on Liquor and Gaming NSW’s bad side.

The regulator has already addressed the matter and said that these businesses would be further investigated and fined if necessary unless there have been extenuating circumstances which have made it impossible to remove the signage. According to NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris, the removal of signage is just one of the things that the state is going to do to ensure the safety of players and consumers.

Harris though has argued that the regulator’s enforcement and legislative strategy has been one of positive engagement as opposed to threatening or going after offenders without proper reason. The idea is, as he puts it, to build strong connections with the licensed venues, which have replaced their gambling ads with offers of entertainment, music, and food.

The NSW has been determined to continue and reduce gambling harm as Australia is one of the biggest gambling nations in the world. The losses attributed to poker machines, known as pokies in local vernacular, have been colossal, and this has triggered a range of legislative safeguards – some of which have been passed swiftly, decisively, and despite any political divide.

Since July 1, 2023, the cash input limit on EGMs has been cut to only AU$500 from AU$5,000 previously. These machines have been cited in numerous reports about money laundering and have been linked to some of the worst cases of gambling addition and gambling-related harm.

In the meantime, New South Wales is also moving forward with its cashless gaming test and has urged local licensed businesses to apply for the pilot. This participation is voluntary, but it may forever change how people in the state interact and experience land-based gambling.

The hope is that through cashless tech, Australians will be better protected and that criminals would be deterred. New concerns about cybersecurity have been raised, however, especially in light of the massive attacks against Caesars Entertainment and other venues in the United States.

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