Provision of free or discounted liquor
While it’s not illegal to provide free or discounted liquor to patrons, hotels and clubs must comply with clause 47(a) of the Gaming Machines Regulation 2019 which states it is an offence to:
“offer or supply, or cause or permit to be offered or supplied, any free or discounted liquor as an inducement to play, or to play frequently, approved gaming machines in the hotel or on the club premises”.
What is the harm in providing free or discounted liquor?
Providing free or discounted liquor as an inducement to play gaming machines may result in gambling harm, as patrons may be incentivised to play gaming machines, or play longer and spend more than they ordinarily would.
Upcoming compliance campaign
Liquor and Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) Inspectors will be attending hotels and clubs in November to identify venues providing free or discounted liquor to gaming patrons. It is important that controls are in place to ensure any free or discounted liquor is not used to induce patrons to play gaming machines.
What do I need to do?
There are a range of measures that may assist in ensuring compliance with the Regulation, including (but not limited to):
- Ensuring there are set criteria for when free/discounted liquor is provided to patrons i.e. not only at the discretion of staff and/or not only to gaming patrons. Any criteria should be unrelated to the playing of gaming machines.
- Limiting the amount and type of free or discounted liquor that can be provided to a patron playing gaming machines.
Does your workplace give out free or discounted liquor?
L&GNSW encourages hospitality staff who may have observed this practice in their workplace to let us know.
The provision of free or discounted liquor as an inducement to gamble can be reported anonymously via our complaints portal and will help us continue reducing gambling related harm in the community.
