In order to operate gaming machines, you must have a licence. There are two types of licences that allow you to operate gaming machines:
Hotel Gaming Licences: are in the form of gaming machine entitlements (GMEs) and poker machine permits (PMPs)
If you will be increasing the availability of gaming after midnight you may be captured by Guideline 16 - Late-night gaming applications PDF, 692.48 KB, which sets out additional factors that the Authority may consider when reviewing applications involving late-night gaming.
In addition to selling and serving alcohol on and off premises, a hotel licence allows you to operate gaming machines.
There must be one GME and/or one PMP for each gaming machine at the hotel.
The Gaming Machine Threshold (GMT) defines the maximum number of GMEs and PMPs for your premises, i.e. the maximum number of gaming machines that you can operate in your hotel.
A hotel’s GMT is limited by the floor space of the premises of the hotel. Hotels can have up to a maximum of 30 gaming machines. If you have more than 10 gaming machines you must have them in a separate Hotel Gaming Room.
For new hotel licences, or when a hotel relocates to a different premises, the GMT for the hotel is automatically set to zero.
To operate gaming machines you need to apply for an increase in your GMT.
Note: GMT cannot be increased if the hotel is (or will be) in a retail shopping center or in the immediate vicinity of:
In most cases a Local Impact Assessment (LIA) must accompany an application for a GMT increase. The application will only be granted if the GMT increase will have a positive impact to the community.
As part of the NSW Governments gradual reduction strategy, each hotel must acquire gaming machine entitlements and permits from within the existing supply of other hotels.
Transfer of entitlements attracts a compulsory forfeiture of one entitlement in every block of two or three entitlements being transferred from other hotels.
In limited cases, GMT for a hotel premises can be increased with a simultaneous transfer of gaming machine entitlements or poker machine permits.
In addition to selling and serving alcohol on and off premises, a club licence allows you to operate gaming machines.
You must have one GME for each gaming machine.
The Gaming Machine Threshold (GMT) defines the maximum number of GMEs for your premises, i.e. the maximum number of gaming machines that you can operate in your club.
A club’s GMT is limited by the floor space of the premises of the club.
For new club licences, or when a club relocates to a different premises, the GMT for the club is automatically set to zero.
Note: GMT cannot be increased if the club is (or will be) in a retail shopping center, or in the immediate vicinity of:
Clubs wishing to increase their GMT over 450 who do not have to complete an LIA, must still demonstrate that:
As part of the NSW Governments gradual reduction strategy, each club must acquire gaming machine entitlements from within the existing supply of other clubs.
Subject to exemptions, transfer of entitlements attracts a compulsory forfeiture of the one entitlement in every block of two, or three, entitlements being transferred from other clubs.
In limited cases, GMT for a club premises can be increased with a simultaneous transfer of gaming machine entitlements.
