The licensee of top gaming pub the Markets Hotel in Homebush West has been fined after investigators uncovered serious breaches of gaming regulation.
The Gaming Machines Act 2001 in NSW specifies that venues cannot allow patrons to use gaming machines during designated shutdown periods.
Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) conducts regular compliance checks to ensure pubs and clubs are adhering to the rules on gaming machine shutdown periods.
Inspectors identified that over the course of three consecutive weekends in July 2023 the venue, currently ranked #7 on the L&GNSW hotels list, had in operation 29 EGMs on a Saturday and Sunday morning between 3am and 6am, which is a breach of the conditions.
Last week representatives for Markets appeared in Downing Centre Local Court. The Magistrate convicted and fined the licensee for allowing patrons to play the machines outside approved hours, issuing a total fine of $28,400.
The regulator reports that 138 venue inspections were conducted in November 2024, across 61 metropolitan and regional LGAs throughout the state. This resulted in one penalty notice and three official cautions being issued.
L&GNSW warns it is planning more inspections for the coming months.
“These restrictions are in place to reduce the risks of gambling harm by limiting the time patrons can spend playing gaming machines,” says Bernadette Beard, L&GNSW Acting Executive Director of Regulatory Operations.
“Ignoring these laws is not just irresponsible, it’s illegal.”
