Hospitality and Racing Newsletter March 2026
In this issue:
- Annual liquor licence fees for 2026
- Compliance awareness campaign
- L&GNSW targeting social media influencers
- Education campaign for regional NSW clubs
- Reminder about gaming machine shutdown changes from 1 April
- Our Mob, Our Media, Our Message – Gambling Harm Prevention Grants
- Liquor Accords Strategy 2026-2028
- NSW venues make the most of vibrancy reforms to tuck into alfresco dining and outdoor events
Annual liquor licence fees for 2026
The Annual Liquor Licence Fee (ALLF) program for 2026 is fast approaching.
The first round of ALLF payment notices will be sent via email and SMS on Monday 13 April 2026. To ensure you receive your annual fee notices and reminders, please make sure your contact details are up to date using our online form
Important dates:
- 13 April 2026: annual liquor licence fee notice issued
- 29 May 2026: annual liquor licence fee payment due
- 26 June 2026: last day to pay before licence suspended for non-payment and a late payment fee added
- 27 July 2026: last day to pay before licence cancelled for non-payment
Surcharge free payment can be made online, by phone or in person using the details provided on your ALLF payment notice.
Additional information on the ALLF program is available on our Annual liquor licence fees for 2026 webpage.
Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) has also produced a short video outlining this year’s ALLF cycle.
Compliance awareness campaign
L&GNSW will be conducting a gambling harm minimisation compliance campaign throughout March and early April 2026. This activity will include onsite engagement with frontline gaming staff to assess their understanding of core gambling harm minimisation obligations.
Maintaining a strong approach to gambling harm minimisation is essential to ensuring a safe, compliant, and trusted hospitality sector in NSW. This campaign aims to:
- confirm that staff understand mandatory harm minimisation obligations
- reinforce the critical role frontline staff play in preventing gambling harm
- promote consistent and proactive compliance across the industry.
L&GNSW targeting social media influencers
L&GNSW is putting gambling operators on notice that social media influencers are a key focus of its regulatory priorities for 2026.
L&GNSW is responsible for monitoring online wagering and gaming machine advertising visible to the NSW community, including posts on social media, to ensure they comply with NSW laws.
Gambling operators should also be aware of their marketing and customer retention practices, including the use of social media personalities.
Education campaign for regional NSW clubs
From 16-20 March 2026, L&GNSW investigators will undertake proactive, educative engagements assisting small to medium sized registered clubs in Bathurst, Hilltops, Wagga Wagga and Albury.
The engagements align with L&GNSW’s Regulatory Priorities and the Hospitality and Racing Strategy 2026-2028.
The focus will be assessing industry awareness of, and compliance with, core club governance requirements under the Registered Clubs Accountability Code.
Find out more about the visits
Reminder about gaming machine shutdown changes from 1 April
Venues that have been formally notified by L&GNSW that their variation to gaming machine shutdown hours have been revoked, are reminded that the revocation will take effect from 4am on Wednesday 1 April 2026.
This follows the review announced on 1 December 2025. Affected venues must observe the standard shutdown period of 4am to 10am daily. Updated licences will be available via the Liquor Licence Manager portal from 1 April 2026.
Our Mob, Our Media, Our Message – Gambling Harm Prevention Grants
The Office of Responsible Gambling has awarded the Our Mob Our Media Our Message – Gambling Harm Prevention Grants to three not-for-profit organisations with strong experience working with Aboriginal communities in NSW.
The grants will support the development of co-designed, culturally relevant social media campaigns aimed at preventing gambling harm among Aboriginal youth.
The three organisations awarded grants and their projects are:
- $149,620 to Souths Cares for the Souths Cares Gambling @Education Campaign
- $150,000 to the Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation to run the Don’t Get Caught in the Gambling Net Campaign
- $100,000 to the Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation for the Ungooroo Gambling Minimisation Project.
Liquor Accords Strategy 2026-2028
We’re pleased to announce that the Liquor Accords Strategy 2026–28 is now available.
The strategy outlines the priorities and objectives for the liquor accords program over the next three years. It has been shaped by extensive feedback from stakeholders across the accord network, as well as insights gained from a detailed review of previous engagements and program approaches.
This strategy plays a key role in the delivery of Hospitality and Racing’s broader vision, mission, and strategic priorities. Hospitality and Racing, through L&GNSW, will continue to provide central coordination, guidance, and resources to support accords and align local efforts with State priorities.
Learn more about Liquor Accords in NSW
NSW venues make the most of vibrancy reforms to tuck into alfresco dining and outdoor events
Outdoor dining continues to grow, with more than 580 businesses across the state making the most of the relaxed rules to host patrons outside their venues as a result of Vibrancy Reforms rolled out since 2023.
The reforms have streamlined processes for venues to apply for permanent outdoor dining which has led to a booming alfresco and outdoor events scene.
Stay connected
In case you missed it!
- Wagga greyhound track
- February 2026 Vibrancy Reforms webinar
- NSW Airports liquor licence transition webinar
Upcoming events
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