Heathcote MP Maryanne Stuart said gaming venues had one month left to remove external gambling-related signage from venues.
Changes in May resulted in venues being given until September 1 this year to remove, alter or conceal all external gambling-related signs including fixed unilluminated signs and digital video displays.
Names such as VIP Room, VIP Lounge, Golden Room, Golden Lounge, Players’ Room and Players’ Lounge will also be banned, as will images of dragons, coins and lightning motifs.
Liquor and Gaming NSW inspectors have visited 530 venues already with 215 of those having already complied with the new regulations.
Mrs Stuart said the move was an important step in the NSW Government’s plan to mitigate problem gambling.
“We know that problem gambling destroys families and it destroys lives,” Mrs Stuart said.
“That is why the NSW Government is putting in measures such as the removal of external signage.
“Clubs and pubs were given plenty of notice regarding these changes and it pleasing to see so many have complied already.
“It also sends a message to those who haven’t: you have one month to comply or risk being fined.”
The maximum penalty for venues that fail to remove signs will be $11,000 per offence.
The removal of the signage is part of the NSW Government’s broader gambling reforms which include:
· reducing the cash input limit from $5,000 to $500 for all new electronic gaming machines from 1 July 2023
· capping the number of gaming machine entitlements in circulation
· banning political donations from clubs involved in gaming
· introducing Responsible Gaming Officers at venues with more than 20 machines
· expanding a third-party exclusion register to the whole state
· establishing an independent panel of expert stakeholders including industry, harm minimisation organisations, academics, law enforcement, cyber security and the union movement to oversee the cashless gaming trial and recommend an implementation roadmap for gaming reforms
