Darlinghurst venues receive order on interconnected gaming rooms

Two venues in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, have been ordered to move or screen gaming machines in interconnected rooms.

The Gaslight Inn and The Colombian Hotel were given the order by Liquor & Gaming NSW to comply with regulations which limit the number of gaming machines allowed in a single space.

“Patrons at both venues are effectively being given direct access to 55 gaming machines instead of the legislated hotel maximum of 30 because of the interconnected rooms,” said Jane Lin, executive director of regulatory operations and enforcement for Liquor & Gaming NSW.

“The existence of a door between the two gaming rooms serves the sole purpose of facilitating patrons to move from one gaming room to the other. This circumvents the gaming machine limits imposed on hotels, which exist as a harm minimisation measure.”

Section 44A of the Gaming Machines Act prohibits venues from effectively operating gaming rooms as one expanded space.

“The government and the community not only expect technical compliance with the state’s gambling laws, but for the spirit and intent of those laws to be met,” continued Ms Lin.

“Liquor & Gaming NSW takes a zero-tolerance approach to venues that do not comply with gaming harm minimisation requirements. While the majority of venues do the right thing, those who breach these laws can expect to face the full force of the law.”

The venues are entitled to have the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority review the decision.