Venue operators and staff are reminded that credits left on gaming machines are unclaimed winnings and must not be played by venue staff or gaming technicians.
Accumulated credits not collected by a patron must be remitted by a venue operator to the Treasurer (in practice, the State Revenue Office) by 31 May each year for the applicable unclaimed winnings reporting period, as outlined in the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (the Act).
It is also a condition of a gaming industry employee’s (GIE) licence that they must not participate in gaming, whilst on duty or at any time the venue is closed to the public, other than as required in the course of their employment. Game play to clear accumulated credits from a gaming machine is not considered to be a requirement of a GIE’s employment and may constitute a breach of the Act which currently carries a maximum penalty of $9913.00 (based on the value of a penalty unit as at 01 July 2020). Disciplinary action can also be taken against a GIE for a contravention of a condition of their licence, and can include a letter of censure or variation, suspension or cancellation of their GIE licence.
Venue operators and staff are also reminded that game play must only occur during the licensed hours of operation of the venue and that it is an offence under the Act for any person to play a gaming machine when the venue is closed to the public which currently carries a maximum penalty of $9,913.00 (based on the value of a penalty unit as at 01 July 2020).
For further information on unclaimed winnings , see: Unclaimed winnings