Liquor & Gaming New South Wales (L&GNSW) has launched a dedicated compliance initiative to prevent minors from accessing casinos, gambling, or consuming alcohol in the Australian state during the busy holiday period. This operation, timed to coincide with increased casino traffic during Christmas and New Year, underscores the state’s commitment to maintaining a strict regulatory environment.
Underage individuals found in casinos face serious consequences, including fines up to AU$4,400 and a one-year ban from entering casinos after they turn 18. Beyond fines, minors are also required to forfeit any winnings obtained through illegal gambling activities.
Dimitri Argeres, Acting Executive Director of Regulatory Operations at L&GNSW, stressed the importance of cooperation between inspectors and casino security staff in enforcing these rules. “This is a critical time of year when we see an increase in people visiting casinos, and it’s essential that minors are not among them,” said Mr. Argeres.
Holding Operators and Individuals Accountable
In addition to targeting individual offenders, the compliance operation focuses on ensuring casino operators uphold their legal obligations. Casino staff are required to undergo thorough training, conduct rigorous ID checks, and implement robust security measures to deter underage visitors.
“This operation focuses on both holding individuals accountable and ensuring casinos meet their legal obligations,” Mr. Argeres explained. “Staff training, rigorous ID checks, and robust security measures are essential to preventing underage access.”
The initiative also seeks to proactively address potential breaches. L&GNSW is collaborating with casino operators to strengthen internal controls and educate staff on the critical role they play in enforcing these regulations.
Strict Laws and Severe Penalties
New South Wales has stringent laws governing underage access to casinos. It is illegal for anyone under 18 to enter a casino, use fraudulent identification, or consume alcohol on the premises. Those who use fake IDs to gain entry risk additional penalties, while excluded persons who breach restrictions face harsher consequences, including fines of up to AU$5,500, up to 12 months in prison, or both.
The crackdown follows several high-profile breaches involving minors in recent years. In one case, a 17-year-old gained entry to a casino with a fake ID and gambled for over an hour before being caught. The individual was fined for entering and using false identification, and the casino operator was penalized AU$25,000 by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) for failing to prevent the breach.
Long-Term Compliance Measures
The holiday season operation is part of broader efforts by L&GNSW to ensure sustained compliance within the casino sector. By maintaining strict enforcement and fostering cooperation between regulatory bodies and operators, the state aims to mitigate risks and uphold a safe and lawful gaming environment.
For example, the state regulator added recent updates to gaming machine regulations in New South Wales, introduced gradually since July 1, 2024. These changes include revised requirements for appointing Responsible Gambling Officers (RGOs), maintaining gambling incident registers, and implementing comprehensive management plans. Notably, smaller venues with 21-99 gaming machine entitlements operating 15 or fewer machines can now apply for exemptions from the RGO requirement, promoting fairness across venues of different sizes.
Additional reforms address training and operational regulations. Club directors now have access to a standard Responsible Gambling Board Oversight course, with the compliance deadline extended to June 30, 2025. To align with the government’s commitment to reduce gaming machine entitlements, the state cap has been lowered by 255 units, bringing it to 95,739. These measures collectively strengthen oversight and support for responsible gambling practices across the state.
