Gaming jobs in Australia

Licensing

Licensing by state

Responsible gambling training is a state and territory requirement, not a national one, and this occupation has the widest jurisdictional spread of any in hospitality. The nationally accredited unit is SITHGAM022 Provide responsible gambling services, but almost every jurisdiction layers its own approved course, name and renewal cycle on top. The names differ: NSW and the ACT call it Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG); most other jurisdictions call it Responsible Service of Gambling or Gaming (RSG). Renewal cycles range from five years in NSW and Tasmania, to three years in Victoria and the ACT, to no renewal requirement at all in Queensland and the Northern Territory. The timing differs too — before you start in NSW and the ACT, within one month and six months for the two Victorian modules, and within three months of starting gaming duties in Queensland. The single biggest structural difference is Western Australia: gaming machines are banned in pubs and clubs and exist only at Crown Perth, so there is effectively no community gaming workforce in that state and casino-specific licensing applies instead. In South Australia the venue must also notify the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner of a new gaming manager or gaming employee before that person can start work — an approval step that does not exist in the same form elsewhere. Casino employees in every state face additional probity checks and employee licensing beyond the responsible gambling unit.

the Australian Capital Territory

Regulator: ACT Gambling and Racing Commission. Holding an RCG certificate is compulsory for anyone directly involved in providing gambling services. All staff directly involved in providing gambling services to patrons, and their supervisors, must successfully complete an approved training program before they start working at a gambling facility. The course is provided by Commission-approved organisations and covers the national responsible gambling unit plus ACT-specific content. The certificate is valid for three years, after which the national unit must be redone. The Commission may grant an exemption in limited circumstances so staff can start or continue work while arranging training.

New South Wales

Regulator: Liquor & Gaming NSW. NSW requires a Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) competency card, and holding it is compulsory before you start gaming work. The course combines the national SITHGAM022 unit with NSW-specific content, and must be completed through an approved provider. The competency card must be renewed every five years, on the same card-based system used for RSA. Most gaming staff hold both an RCG and an RSA competency card.

the Northern Territory

Regulators: Licensing NT for licensing matters and the NT Racing and Wagering Commission for compliance. All gambling venue staff must complete responsible service of gambling (RSG) competency training, which also extends to staff of licensed sports bookmakers and betting exchange operators. Unusually, the Northern Territory does not require certificate renewal or refresher training — once completed, it stands. RSA in the NT, by contrast, must be renewed every three years, so the two credentials run on different cycles.

Queensland

Regulator: Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR). People who carry out gaming duties in a licensed club or hotel must complete Responsible Service of Gambling (RSG) training within three months of starting employment. The credential is a Statement of Attainment for the national responsible gambling unit and, once obtained, it does not expire. RSA is also required and likewise has no mandatory expiry in Queensland. Casino employees are subject to separate casino employee licensing.

South Australia

Regulators: Consumer and Business Services and the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner. Anyone carrying out the duties of a gaming manager or gaming employee must complete approved courses of training through an approved provider — Responsible Service of Gambling Level 1 (RSG1), with RSG2 and RSG3 for more senior roles. From 31 March 2024, registered training organisations may only deliver course content approved by the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner, and the Commissioner has approved a single set of content for RSG1, RSG2 and RSG3 across all RTOs. Distinctively, the gaming machine licensee must notify the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner of a new gaming manager or gaming employee before that person can start work.

Tasmania

Regulator: Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission, within the Department of Treasury and Finance, under the Gaming Control Act 1993. Responsible gambling training is a legal requirement for gaming staff, and a Responsible Conduct of Gambling course approved by the Commission must be completed every five years. RSA is also required, with the Liquor and Gaming Branch as regulator.

Victoria

Regulators: Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for venue obligations, with Responsible Service of Gaming (RSG) training delivered free by the Victorian Government. Staff who have not previously completed Victorian RSG training must complete two modules: Module 1 within one month of starting work and Module 2 within six months of starting work in a gaming venue. RSG refresher training must then be completed every three years. RSA through Liquor Control Victoria is also required, on its own three-yearly refresher cycle.

Western Australia

Regulator: Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia, with liquor administered by the Racing, Gaming and Liquor division of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety. Western Australia is the outlier: gaming machines are prohibited in pubs and clubs and exist only at Crown Perth, a policy held since the 1980s. There is therefore effectively no community gaming workforce in WA — gaming employment is concentrated at the single casino, which applies its own employee licensing, probity checks and in-house training rather than a general community RSG scheme.