From 1 July 2013 there will be various changes to the legislation governing Keno, Lotteries, Wagering and Casino Control affecting all licensees in Queensland.
Liquor licensing changes will affect the community in a number of ways. Non-profit community organisations will no longer need a Community Liquor Permit to sell alcohol at a one-off fundraising event if the profit is used to benefit the community, liquor is sold in a period of eight hours or less between 7.00am and midnight, and the sale of liquor is ancillary tothe event.
Liquor licensees will no longer be required to obtain a risk-assessed management plan when applying for a liquor licence provided that the premises will not be open past midnight, the licensee does not hold an adult entertainment permit, and the venue is not a restricted area.
Liquor licensees will also be relieved of the obligation to obtain a community impact statement when applying for a restaurant or cafe liquor licence if the venue is located near other commercial properties, does not trade past midnight, there is no amplified entertainment, and the venue will not adversely affect the surrounding community.
Some of the changes that will affect clubs and hotels include:
- Clubs and hotels will not be required to renew their gaming machine licences;
- Clubs no longer have to seek the Commissioner’s approval to acquire or replace gaming machines;
- After a gaming machine licence has been granted, the machines will no longer have to be installed by a set date;
- Club gaming machine licensees now have two years to dispose of gaming machine entitlements after a decrease in gaming machines, surrendering a licence or ceasing gaming at an additional premises.
Prior to these changes in legislation, all gaming venues were required to remit any unclaimed winnings to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (“OLGR”) within 3 months. This has now been extended to 12 months.
There are changes that will affect casinos, such as casino operators will no longer be required to forward gaming chip purchase orders to OLGR for approval, and casino employee training courses will no longer have to be approved by the Chief Executive of OLGR, as casinos will now be responsible for ensuring the training delivered to their staff is adequate.
As of 1 July 2013, the State will no longer be responsible for the regulation of trainers offering Responsible Service of Alcohol (“RSA”) and Responsible Service of Gaming (“RSG”) courses as it will be a matter for the Commonwealth Government. Current RSA and RSG certificates will continue to be recognised for a three year transitional period from the date of issue.
For further information on these changes visit www.olgr.qld.gov.au.
