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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.”

On 2 May, the Danish Parliament adopted the Act on Amendment of Act on Gambling. Among other things, the amendment of the Gambling Act means that the Danish Gambling Authority from the 1st of July 2024 will have more response options i.e., options to issue orders and reprimands.

Until last month, the Danish Gambling Authority had the option to warn the licence holder or report it to the police when the Danish Gambling Authority found a breach of the gambling legislation.

However, in the future, when the Danish Gambling Authority finds a breach, the Danish Gambling Authority can issue an order and/or a reprimand. If the licence holder fails to comply with the order or does not meet the deadline, the breach may result in a report to the police or the licence may be revoked.

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The amendment of the Act also means that the Danish Gambling Authority must publish court rulings where the outcome is a verdict of guilty or a partial verdict and fines issued for breaches found after 1 July 2024 on the Danish Gambling Authority’s website for five years.

On Spillemyndigheden.dk, you will find a full list of all reactions issued by the Danish Gambling Authority. You will find the list “Rulings and reactions” under “News” in the menu. The list enables you to filter by type of reaction and field of law.