Gambling licensing policy

There is provision in the Act for premises licensed to sell alcohol (for consumption on the premises) to automatically have 2 gaming machines of categories C and/or D. The premises merely need to notify the relevant licensing authority. If the licence holder transfers the alcohol premises licence the automatic entitlement also ceases. In these circumstances the new licence holder would need to notify the licensing authority of their intention to make the gaming machine(s) available for use and pay the prescribed fee. Likewise, if the alcohol licence ceases to have effect because it is suspended, any gaming machines cannot be used.

The Licensing Authority may remove the automatic authorisation relating to any particular premises if:

• provision of the machines is not reasonably consistent with the pursuit of the licensing objectives
• gaming has taken place on the premises that breaches a condition of either section 279 or section 282(1) of the Act
• the premises are mainly used for gaming, or
• an offence under the Act has been committed on the premises.