’VIP Lounge’ signs outside pubs to disappear by September

Advertising poker machines has been banned for years, leaving pubs and clubs across NSW spruiking “VIP lounges” instead. Those signs must disappear by September.

All pokies-related signage will disappear from NSW pubs within four months, and venues who flout tough new rules face up to $11,000 in fines for every offence.

The ban on “VIP Lounge” signage – which has become ubiquitous outside the state’s pubs – comes into effect from September 1.

That means pubs and clubs must strip down all external gaming-related signs including video screens and awnings within months.

Some venues have already moved to black out their external poker machine signage.

While a ban on external pokies advertising has long been in place, venues circumvented the rules by using phrases like “VIP lounge,” “platinum lounge,” and “players’ lounge”. These will all be explicitly banned with other phrases also set to be prohibited.

Signs advertising pokies “VIP rooms” outside pubs will go by September.

Images of dragons, coins, and lightning motifs will also be banned.

Venues that can demonstrate delays in removing signs which are outside of their control will be given three months’ leeway, but from November the government will take a zero tolerance approach.

Banning VIP lounge signage was a key plank of the pokies policy Premier Chris Minns took to the March election, which included a mandatory trial of cashless machines.

Chris Minns took the ban to the election in March. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris said the government was moving to close a “loophole” that was putting problem gamblers at risk.

“The facades of pubs and clubs across the state are littered with signs such as ‘VIP lounge’ to alert those walking or driving by that they have gaming machines,” he said. 

“Some of these signs are extremely prominent, contain and can be seen by children and members of the community who are at risk of gambling harm.”

Australian Hotels Association NSW CEO John Whelan welcomed the move.

“This is a common sense decision,” he said.

“You already can’t advertise gaming anywhere else. This change ensures there is consistency across NSW.”