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)
The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (the Authority) determines gaming related applications as venues move, trade and lease gaming machine entitlements and seek to vary their gaming machine shutdown hours.
The Authority has particular concerns with applications that increase the availability of gaming machines after midnight in Band 3 SA2 and after 2:00am in a Band 1 or 2 SA2. The Authority has developed Guideline 16 (Authority Guideline 16 - Late-night gaming applications PDF, 402.64 KB) to assist applicants in demonstrating due regard to gambling harm minimisation and fostering the responsible conduct of gambling.
The Guideline applies to applicants seeking:
In considering what is in the public interest the Authority will consider the objects of the Gaming Machines Act and the matters set out in Guideline 16, including any submissions made by the applicant under Guideline 16.
Guideline 16 states that the Authority will look more favourably upon late night gaming applications where a venue has implemented or proposes implementing strategies to prevent and reduce gambling harm beyond the minimum legislative requirements. In considering how Guideline 16 applies to your application, we encourage you to:
If you are applying to increase the availability of gaming machines at your venue then you should submit a Gaming Plan of Management (GPOM). A GPOM provides a framework for both patrons and staff in understanding and managing the potential impacts of gambling.
A GPOM identifies a venue’s responsible conduct of gambling (RCG) obligations and goals and commits the venue to implementing appropriate harm minimisation measures. It provides guidance to you and your staff on the actions that will be taken to not only ensure compliance with your obligations under the gaming laws and your licence, but also to support best practice in your approach to RCG.
It is recommended that all gaming venues develop a GPOM. Note that a GPOM can be used to support an application.
Read the Gaming Plan of Management Factsheet PDF, 303.07 KB for more information about what should be included in a GPOM.
If your application involves an increase in the availability of gaming your application is likely to be determined by the Authority rather than under delegation. Examples of late night gaming applications likely to be determined by the Authority include:
Gaming machine threshold increases without entitlement or permit transfers or leases:
Gaming machine threshold increases with entitlement or permit transfers or leases:
Extended trading applications and gaming machine shutdown related applications:
If you have any questions about current delegations, please email Liquor & Gaming NSW.
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.
ILGA takes a risk-based approach to discharging its functions. This means that ILGA will refer to the statutory objects and specific statutory criteria for making decisions set out in the liquor and gaming legislation. ILGA will also consider relevant liquor and gaming related research and evidence, including crime, demographic and health statistics.
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.
