The Minns Labor Government is giving fans the chance to enjoy early-morning matches and provide a boost to local hospitality venues with extended trading hours for licensed venues statewide during the FIFA World Cup.

The biggest and most watched sporting event on the planet is being played in the US, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July, with 48 nations competing for the Cup.

Pubs, clubs and bars statewide can operate extended hours when they broadcast Australian group stage matches, all the knockout rounds (16 and 32) and the finals.

There are also two free public live sites operating, Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbour and Cathy Freeman Park at Sydney Olympic Park.

Both will host live broadcasts of every Socceroos match on giant screens, beginning with Australia vs Türkiye on 14 June at 2pm (AEST), USA vs Australia on 20 June at 5am, and Paraguay vs Australia on 26 June at 12pm.

Finals matches are also scheduled at Tumbalong Park from 10 July through to 20 July, including quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.

Extended trading will also apply to licensed premises when the Darling Harbour live site screens afternoon games. This applies to the City of Sydney local government area, including Sydney, Pyrmont, Ultimo, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Haymarket, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Dawes Point, Millers Point, Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay and Woolloomooloo.

This is part of the NSW Government’s Special Event Extended Trading initiative, which allows venues to trade outside regular times during major cultural and sporting events. It is just one of several measures supporting the government’s broader Vibrancy Reforms aimed at enhancing the night-time economy in NSW, catering to industry and consumer needs.

The extended trading covers on-premises alcohol service only, not takeaway, and venues cannot operate gaming machines unless already authorised to do so.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet and expected to draw strong crowds to venues across NSW, supporting the NSW Government’s commitment to a safe, vibrant and responsible night-time economy during major global events.

“Extended trading hours mean fans can come together and enjoy ‘the beautiful game’ while supporting local venues.

“With many World Cup games screening in the early hours of the morning, this is a great opportunity for fans to get together at their local pub or club, get behind the Socceroos and hopefully celebrate some big wins.

“These extended hours also provide a vital boost to our hospitality industry, a key pillar of our night-time economy, by enabling venues to serve more patrons, create more jobs and increase business activity.

“Venues operating under extended hours must continue to meet responsible service of alcohol requirements and put the right measures in place to keep patrons safe.”

Australian Hotels Association NSW, Director of Policy Chris Gatfield said: “Sydney is a vibrant, international city. There are a lot of football fans here, both homegrown and visiting from overseas, and the extended hours mean they won’t miss a moment of the action.

“We’re particularly pleased hotels will also be able to apply to trade earlier or later for the group matches through an application process.

“Get out of the cold and into a venue – there’s no better place to watch the World Cup than down at the local with your mates.”

The post NSW Scores with Extended Trading for FIFA World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Regulating the Game has announced an updated partnership framework for the 2027 initiative, organized into four levels — Principal Partner, Signature Partners, Pillar Partners, and Activation Partners — aimed at providing sponsors a more defined connection with the conference, the RTG Global Awards, and the delegate experience.

The updated architecture showcases significant involvement in 2026 and mirrors the widened scope of the 2027 program, which encompasses a more extensive conference agenda and the growth of the RTG Global Awards from six to twelve categories.

Regulating the Game 2027 Sydney is scheduled for 8–10 March 2027 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, featuring the RTG Global Awards ceremony on 9 March 2027.

A more distinct connection between partner funding and program worth.Every level is designed to correspond with the delegates’ experience of the program — starting with the conference opening, through Pitch!, the main program, the Global Awards Gala Dinner, and concluding the event. The goal is to minimize overlapping propositions, enhance category positioning, and achieve partnership results that are clear, traceable, and aligned with the program’s core.

• Principal Partner — The lead partner of the Regulating the Game 2027 program, with prominence across the conference, the Global Awards and the delegate journey. Reserved as a singular position.
• Signature Partners — A small group of premium partners aligned with flagship program elements, including Pitch!, the Global Awards Gala Dinner and other headline moments of the 2027 program.
• Pillar Partners — Partners aligned with the core thematic pillars of the Regulating the Game program: regulation and policy, compliance and integrity, safer gambling, and technology and innovation.
• Activation Partners — Partners supporting specific delegate touchpoints and experiences across the program, with visibility tied to defined activations.

A maturing global program

The 2027 program builds on the trajectory established in 2026, which saw strong international participation, the inaugural RTG Global Awards and the Pitch! showcase that brought together established providers and emerging RegTech disruptors. The expanded 2027 awards program — with six new categories including Black Market Disruption Initiative, Sport & Wagering Integrity Initiative, Research Impact, Gambling Harm Prevention Campaign, Compliance Advisory and Distinguished Contribution — broadens the recognition framework across the sector.
“The 2027 architecture reflects the maturity of the Regulating the Game program — a global conference, an expanded awards program and a delegate community that spans regulators, sector leaders, technology and research across multiple jurisdictions,” said Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch and Founder of Regulating the Game.

“Partners increasingly want a clearer line of sight to value, audience and alignment. The four-tier model is designed to provide that — fewer overlapping propositions, clearer category positioning, and partnerships that map to how the program is actually experienced by delegates.”

Partner engagement now open

Partnership conversations for the 2027 program are now open. Organisations interested in any of the four tiers are invited to make contact through Regulating the Game to discuss alignment, availability and entitlements.

Event Details
Regulating the Game 2027 Sydney 8–10 March 2027 Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Sydney, Australia
RTG Global Awards Presentation 9 March 2027

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Bally’s Intralot S.A. (Bally’s Intralot) has announced that its Australian subsidiary, Intralot Gaming Services (IGS) has been awarded a new 15-year Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) Monitoring Licence for the State of Victoria, effective 16 August 2027.

This landmark award positions Bally’s Intralot to deliver a new generation of technology, transparency and collaboration to one of the world’s most mature and highly regulated gaming markets.

Approximately 26,300 EGMs will be connected to the Monitoring System which will provide a vital role in ensuring the ongoing integrity of EGM transactions in gaming venues. It will also provide data and information on EGMs for regulatory, harm minimisation, taxation and research purposes.

Under the licence, IGS will also be responsible for the delivery, operation and maintenance of the statewide Pre-commitment System for all EGMs in Victoria, including 2628 EGMs at the Melbourne casino.

A New Technology Era for Victoria

IGS will deploy a next-generation, cloud-enabled monitoring platform designed to deliver:

• Real-time monitoring and reporting

• Advanced data analytics capabilities

• Best-in-class cybersecurity protections

• Scalable architecture to support evolving regulatory requirements

• Future-ready integration enabling seamless connectivity with venues, manufacturers and regulatory systems

“This award represents a major milestone for Bally’s Intralot and IGS and is a significant investment in the future of Victoria’s gaming technology infrastructure. We look forward to working with the Victorian Government, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, and industry stakeholders to deliver a secure and transparent monitoring system that supports integrity and player protection,” said Robeson Reeves, CEO of the Bally’s Intralot Group.

IGS and Bally’s Intralot will commence planning and stakeholder engagement in the coming months to support a carefully managed, smooth and seamless transition.

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