Australia

BUSINESSES URGED TO REMAIN COVID COMPLIANT AND KEEP NSW SAFE

Published

4 years ago

May 27, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The NSW hospitality industry is being put on notice with numerous serious breaches of COVID compliance being detected by Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors.

Liquor & Gaming Director of Compliance Dimitri Argeres said the developing situation in Victoria is a timely reminder for businesses to remain vigilant as inspectors are still out checking COVID compliance, and that there are no excuses for not requiring patrons to sign-in with the Service NSW QR Code.

“The most recent breaches were detected last week during a COVID compliance blitz on the Central Coast with two venues, Munchas Café at Shelly Beach and BFF Café in Woy Woy, found to be not enforcing patron sign-in using the Service NSW QR code. The BFF Café was also found to have an out-of-date COVID Safety Plan and their physical sign-in register had not been digitised,” Mr Argeres said.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

“The courts have also fined three Sydney hospitality businesses a total of $5,400 this month for breaches, sending a strong message to the industry about the importance of COVID compliance.

“This is in addition to restaurants Sushi Hon and Pho Tonkin being fined $5,000 each for COVID non-compliance this month, after a Sydney blitz targeting COVID safety and venues involved in the NSW Government’s Dine & Discover program.

“At this stage of the pandemic, there is simply no excuse for not complying with the check-in requirements. Businesses must be vigilant with their QR code check-in, as this data will be vital in contact tracing if NSW experiences an outbreak like Victoria. Significant penalties, including closure of a venue, apply for non-compliance.

“The majority of clusters in NSW have centred around hospitality venues because of the ease with which the COVID virus can spread in enclosed indoor areas, so it is vital restaurants continue to stay COVID safe.

“There have been some changes and businesses must remain up-to-date. But what has not changed is having robust, digital check in processes that allows for effective contact tracing in the event a positive case has visited the venue.

“Contact tracing is essential in maintaining the health of NSW and helps keeps businesses safe and open. Our inspectors will continue to undertake both uniformed and plain clothes inspections, so if you’re breaking the rules you run a high risk of receiving a hefty fine or a closure in the event of repeat offending,” he said.

Recent court cases relating to breaches of the COVID-19 Public Health Orders include:

On 11 September 2020, L&G Inspectors attended the Ship Inn in Sydney to conduct a COVID-19 compliance check. They found the gaming machines were not spaced 1.5m apart, as required by their COVID-19 Safety Plan. The owner was given a 12-month conditional release order and ordered to pay costs of $3,000.
On 4 November 2020, L&G Inspectors attended the Three Brothers Bakery in Liverpool to conduct a COVID-19 compliance check and found they didn’t have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place. The owner was found guilty and fined $400.
On 17 November 2020, L&G Inspectors attended Fujiyama Japanese Cuisine restaurant in Bankstown to conduct COVID-19 compliance check. They were convicted of not having a COVID Safety Plan, not capturing or digitising all patron records, and not having conditions of entry posted, and fined $2,000.
For more information on NSW COVID Safe Check-in and record keeping requirements visit the Service NSW website.

Australia

L&GNSW Launches Compliance Campaign

Published

6 hours ago

July 7, 2025

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) has launched a compliance campaign focusing on external gambling signage and internal gambling related signage that is visible from the outside of the premises.

Inspectors will be engaging licensees and attending venues to assess compliance.

L&GNSW will be taking escalated enforcement action against any venue found not to be complying with the requirements.

From 1 December 2023, L&GNSW adopted a zero-tolerance enforcement approach regarding external gambling-related signage. This followed a compliance campaign which involved the removal of all external gambling related signage such as “VIP Lounge,” signage that includes dragon imagery or similar, and the removal of adopted imagery including images associated with gaming machines.

External gambling related signage at hotels and registered clubs are subjected to the requirements of sections 43 and 44 of the Gaming Machines Act 2001 NSW (the Act).

These requirements are in place to continue supporting gambling harm minimisation by reducing the visibility and promotion of gambling, particularly to vulnerable individuals and the broader community.

Venues that are not yet compliant should consult the 2023 Compliance Campaign: External gaming signage for hotels & clubs position paper or contact the Hospitality Concierge for additional information on the requirements.

L&GNSW recommends venues conduct self-audits to ensure their obligations and requirements in relation to the Act are met. A Gaming Harm Minimisation Fact sheet is also available.

Breaches of section 43(1) and 44(1) of the Act can result in on the spot fines of $1100 per offence or a maximum fine of $11,000 per offence if prosecuted.

The post L&GNSW Launches Compliance Campaign appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Australia

Konami Promotes Tom Jingoli to President and COO

Published

3 days ago

July 4, 2025

Niji Narayan

konami-promotes-tom-jingoli-to-president-and-coo

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Konami Gaming has announced the promotion of Tom Jingoli to President & Chief Operating Officer, as well as Managing Director of its overseas subsidiary Konami Australia Pty Ltd.

For more than 20 years, Tom Jingoli has served Konami with strategic leadership across a variety of areas, including compliance, sales, marketing, customer service and more. Concurrent to this announcement, Konami marked the appointment of Steve Sutherland as Corporate Officer for parent company KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION, where he now serves in addition to carrying on his role as Chief Executive Officer of Konami Gaming Inc.

“Considering Tom Jingoli’s exceptional industry tenure, commitment, vision, and impact, it is especially rewarding to announce this leadership change within the organization. As President of Konami Gaming and Managing Director of Konami Australia, Jingoli will continue the organizations’ business growth, market expansion, and positive momentum on a global scale,” said Steve Sutherland, chief executive officer at Konami Gaming.

As President & COO of Konami Gaming, Tom Jingoli is responsible for successful daily operations, execution and partnership throughout the business, to ensure company results. All internal departments and divisions are under his direct report, spanning seven locations across five continents. This supervision extends to his role as Managing Director of Konami Australia. In his role as Chief Executive Officer of Konami Gaming, Steve Sutherland continues to oversee all aspects of the global organisation and its divisions to achieve long-range goals. Steve Sutherland and Tom Jingoli are both long-time members on Konami Gaming’s Board of Directors.

The post Konami Promotes Tom Jingoli to President and COO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Australia

VGCCC: Minors Exposed to Gambling at ALH Venues

Published

2 weeks ago

June 25, 2025

Niji Narayan

vgccc:-minors-exposed-to-gambling-at-alh-venues

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Victorian venues are putting young people at risk when they turn a blind eye to, or otherwise fail to prevent, minors entering poker machine areas, according to Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) CEO Suzy Neilan.

Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) was fined $38,000 without conviction in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria for offences involving 3 minors at 3 venues on 4 dates in 2024.

ALH pleaded guilty to 6 charges, having self-reported the breaches to the VGCCC, which Ms Neilan said was important to recognise as a positive step towards improving industry practices.

“Being accountable for wrongdoing demonstrates integrity, which has been a focus of the VGCCC’s ongoing work with gambling operators,” she said.

“But it’s not enough to own up after the fact. Venues must be proactive about ensuring that minors do not access poker machine areas by ensuring they have in place appropriate systems, processes and staff.

“Operators should undertake a risk assessment and put in place controls to prevent minors from entering gambling areas. Some examples of controls could include displaying clear signage that the poker machine room is for adults only and checking the identification of anyone who appears under 25 years of age.”

Ms Neilan said it was not acceptable that any Victorian clubs and hotels – in this case, the Cramers and Excelsior hotels – were repeat offenders.

A 17-year-old was able to enter the poker machine area of Cramers Hotel in Preston multiple times without having to show ID, despite several interactions with staff and visits to the poker machine area on 24 January 2024. Staff intervened on 25 January 2024 only after the underage teen placed his belongings next to a poker machine.

Separately, a child in the company of 2 adults entered the poker machine area of the Excelsior Hotel in Thomastown on 24 April 2024. The child, who was seated with one of the adults, pressed buttons on the poker machine before they were both escorted from the area.

And on 27 September 2024, a 14-year-old boy entered the poker machine room of the Mountain View Hotel in Glen Waverley and gambled on a poker machine before staff intervened.

Ms Neilan said the VGCCC would continue to be vigilant about prosecuting venues for allowing minors to access the gambling areas of their premises, but that “prevention is better than cure”.

“I encourage all hotels and clubs to review their operations, including staff training, and consider making any adjustments required to ensure compliance with the law.”

In addition to the fine, the Magistrate ordered ALH to pay VGCCC’s legal costs of $40,000. The Magistrate also noted that but for the guilty plea, he would have fined ALH $90,000 and recorded a criminal conviction.

Summary of charges:

Incident 1 – Cramers Hotel:

Charge 1: Offences in respect of a minor entering a gaming machine area

Charge 2: Offences in respect of allowing a minor to gamble

Incident 2 – Excelsior Hotel:

Charge 3: Offences in respect of a minor entering a gaming machine area

Charge 4: Offences in respect of allowing a minor to gamble

Incident 3 – Mountain View Hotel:

Charge 5: Offences in respect of a minor entering a gaming machine area

Charge 6: Offences in respect of allowing a minor to gamble.

The post VGCCC: Minors Exposed to Gambling at ALH Venues appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.