Hospitality and Racing February Newsletter 2026
Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026–28 and Liquor & Gaming NSW 2026 Regulatory Priorities
Ex-licensee of Tamworth pub banned after patron placed in coma
Former Ivy licensees banned for failing to record incidents
Club Marconi official banned and fined for fraud
Gaming venue licensee convicted for ATM allowing cash withdrawals from credit cards
Venues urged to prioritise student safety during O-Week 2026
Update on the review of varied gaming machine shutdown hours
Webinar on live music incentives and venue upgrade grants
Alcohol Marketing and Water Safety
Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026–28 and Liquor & Gaming NSW 2026 Regulatory Priorities
We’ve released the Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-28, which sets out the strategic objectives that will guide our organisation over the next three years.
We have also published the Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) Regulatory Priorities for 2026, which set out four enduring priorities and three focus areas to signal where we will be applying our regulatory attention this year.
Ex-licensee of Tamworth pub banned after patron placed in coma
The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) has disqualified the license of the former licensee of the Southgate Inn Hotel at Tamworth for 12 months.
The ban comes after L&GNSW investigated a complaint alleging that employees permitted intoxication of a patron who later fell outside the venue and needed to be placed in an induced coma.
Former Ivy licensees banned for failing to record incidents
Two former licensees of the Ivy venue in Sydney’s CBD have been handed one-year bans for failing to record multiple incidents following an investigation by L&GNSW.
The investigation centered on the venue’s use of a makeshift on-site medical room that treated patrons for intoxication, drug overdoses and injuries.
Find out more about the incidents
Club Marconi official banned and fined for fraud
Club officials are being reminded of their legal obligations and the importance of good governance after the former secretary and CEO of Club Marconi was banned for 12 months and fined $11,000 for dishonest and fraudulent conduct.
ILGA made the decision after a complaint was lodged by L&GNSW in response to a whistleblower alleging Mr Anthony Zappia had engaged in fraudulent conduct.
Gaming venue licensee convicted for ATM allowing cash withdrawals from credit cards
Gaming machine operators are reminded of their obligations under the Gaming Machines Act 2001 after the licensee of the Freeway Hotel in Artarmon was convicted, fined and ordered to pay legal costs totaling $32,000 for operating an ATM with credit access.
This is the third penalty imposed on gaming venues for allowing cash withdrawals from credit accounts in the past year.
Venues urged to prioritise student safety during O-Week 2026
University orientation starts around NSW this week. During O‑Week, L&GNSW is encouraging licensed venues to help create a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environment for students beginning their university journey or returning.
L&GNSW inspectors will be out across the state during O‑Week to provide guidance, answer questions, and make sure promotions and events meet regulatory standards.
Moree Regulatory Roadshow
The Regulatory Roadshow program for 2026 will kick off in Moree on Tuesday 31 March.
The roadshows provide licensees with the opportunity to hear directly from our leaders, ask questions, stay up to date with regulatory priorities, and connect with peers from across the sector.
For more information, including upcoming dates and locations, and registration details, please visit our dedicated Moree Regulatory Roadshow web page.
Update on the review of varied gaming machine shutdown hours
L&GNSW and ILGA have been reviewing approved variations to the mandatory gaming machine shutdown period.
Venues with a variation had until 4 February 2026 to contact L&GNSW if they wished to make a submission providing relevant information about their variation.
Consideration and decision-making is now underway. Outcomes will be communicated to individual venues when available.
All exemption revocations will take effect from 31 March 2026, with venues returning to the general mandatory shutdown period from 4am on Wednesday 1 April 2026.
The role of the inspector
L&GNSW has published new information titled The Role of the Inspector, to help industry and community members better understand the role and responsibilities of our inspectors.
In partnership with Multicultural NSW, this information has been translated into the top 10 languages spoken in NSW, including Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Nepalese, Portuguese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese. These multilingual resources support greater understanding of regulatory requirements and help industry engage confidently with inspectors.
Webinar on live music incentives and venue upgrade grants
Recently, L&GNSW and Sound NSW delivered a webinar on the recent Vibrancy reforms supporting live music and performance across NSW. The webinar covered changes to the live music incentives and venue upgrade grants.
The session provided up to date information on the eligibility requirements for becoming a listed live music venue, and the support available to venues, including access to infrastructure development expertise and funding.
Alcohol Marketing and Water Safety
The Australian Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) has launched a new Alcohol and Water Safety Guide to support marketers and industry in meeting ABAC Code requirements when depicting alcohol around pools, beaches, and other water settings.
The guide responds to an increase in Code breaches involving alcohol consumption shown immediately before or during water-based activities - situations that present clear safety risks and are prohibited under the Code.
The resource provides simple visual examples to help marketing, legal, and agency teams avoid non‑compliant portrayals. Marketers and industry stakeholders are also encouraged to use ABAC’s confidential pre‑vetting service before campaign/product launch.
Stay connected
In case you missed it!
- Vibrancy Reforms commenced and changes to improve patron and staff safety
- Vibrancy Reforms commenced and removal of certain conditions from your licence
- Ex-licensee of Western Sydney hotel fined $44k for pokie offences
- Racing appointments
- 40,000 hospitality workers trained to make NSW venues safer from sexual harassment and assault
- End of an era: last drinks for remaining lockout laws
Missed an issue? Read previous issues of our newsletter.