Liquor & Gaming NSW past consultations

The Office of the 24 Hour-Economy Commissioner (O24HEC) wanted to hear your feedback on how recent nightlife reforms have affected your venue.

In 2023 and 2024, NSW Parliament introduced the Vibrancy Reforms to support live music and help night-time businesses thrive. These reforms included streamlined approvals, reduced red tape, and practical changes to liquor licensing and sound management.

On behalf of O24HEC, Liquor & Gaming NSW sought feedback from licensed venues to understand awareness of the reforms, evaluate their impact, and inform future policy and support programs.

The consultation via Have your say closed on Friday, 13 June 2025. Thank you to those who participated in the consultation.

The Registered Clubs Regulation 2015 is due to be repealed on 1 September 2025 in accordance with the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989. L&GNSW proposed that the Regulation be renewed.

The proposed Regulation primarily rolled over current provisions, with some amendments to improve the clarity and operational efficiency for clubs, members and the regulator.

We sought feedback from the community and stakeholders on the proposed Regulation, including the amendments outlined in the Regulatory Impact Statement.

The consultation via Have your say closed on Wednesday, 25 June 2025.

L&GNSW is currently reviewing the feedback and will provide further information prior to the Regulation being repealed on 1 September 2025.

The NSW Government committed to a package of gaming reforms, including a third-party exclusion scheme, a statewide exclusion register, and the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in venues with gaming machines to support exclusions.

The third-party exclusion scheme aims to minimise gambling harm and prevent criminal activity by allowing family members/friends and police to apply to exclude individuals from hotels and clubs through the court system or the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA).  These applications would be on the basis of significant gambling harm for family/friends or in the case of police, for criminal activity.

This initiative is designed to protect those experiencing significant gambling harm and provide law enforcement with tools to address criminal activity.

We sought feedback from the community and stakeholders on the proposed policy approach, and several key issues. This consultation was focused on third-party exclusion initiated by friends, family or gaming venues.

This consultation opened on 15 February and closed 28 March 2025. Thank you to those who participated in the consultation. This feedback is being considered and will help inform the development and implementation of third-party exclusion in NSW.

In 2023, the NSW Government committed to mandating the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in hotels and clubs with gaming machines to support exclusions by making it easier to identify excluded customers through automatic detection via FRT.

This technology will aid in the implementation of a statewide exclusion register and third-party exclusion scheme. FRT provides a more reliable method than manual detection, especially in crowded venues, by automatically identifying excluded individuals as they enter a venue or gaming room.

Feedback was sought from the community and stakeholders on the proposed guidelines and requirements for mandatory FRT in hotels and registered clubs with gaming machines, to support exclusions.

A draft Code of Practice for Facial Recognition in hotels and clubs (the Code) which sets minimum standards for the voluntary use of FRT was also provided as an attachment to the consultation paper for public comment.

This consultation opened on 15 February and closed 28 March 2025. Thank you to those who participated in the consultation. This feedback is being considered and will help inform the development and implementation of FRT in NSW.

The ClubGRANTS Scheme (Scheme) has not been formally reviewed since 2013, when the Auditor-General of NSW conducted a performance audit of the Scheme’s management. The ClubGRANTS Guidelines have evolved since that time in response to technological changes, changes to the industry and externalities such as drought, bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.

To ensure the NSW Government’s standards for grant programs are being met, the ClubGRANTS Review (Review) will determine whether the Scheme provides cost effective benefits to local communities, including whether the taxation arrangements are appropriate, whether the regulatory framework remains fir for purpose, and whether the administration of the Scheme meets contemporary standards.

This will include examining all aspects of the Scheme and all options for reform, including repealing, reforming or amending the current Scheme.

Liquor & Gaming NSW will lead the Review in consultation with The Cabinet Office and NSW Treasury. The Review will run separately to, but concurrently with, the cashless gaming trials and may seek views from the Independent Panel for Gaming Reform.

This consultation closed on the 18 March 2024. Thank you to participants for providing input.

The NSW Government is exploring liquor licensing reform options.

The reforms aim to modernise the planning and liquor licensing systems to reduce costs and make it easier for licensed businesses in NSW to start, grow and diversify, while managing the risk of alcohol-related harm and making it easier for the community to have their say.

We want to hear from the liquor industry, potential or previous licence applicants, community groups or local residents, advocacy and health groups, First Nations groups, special interest groups, stakeholders interested in the regulation of liquor and hospitality businesses in NSW, and members of the public to find out if our reform options will work, and if there are any other ideas we can consider.

Tell us what you think through the Have your say webpage from 25 October to 13 December 2022.

The NSW Government has reviewed the alcohol delivery reforms which commenced on 1 July 2021.

The reforms aimed to better regulate alcohol delivery services and address the heightened risk of minors or intoxicated people accessing those services.

The review was conducted in two stages. Stage 1 consultations closed on 12 August 2022 and stage 2 consultations closed on 28 August 2023.

View final reports.