Exterior signage rules for gaming venues
By law, signage drawing attention to or using terms associated with gaming machines is prohibited. The two permitted types of signs are only allowed if the criteria outlined below are met.
The first type of permitted signage is for display on the exterior of the approved gaming venue itself. Venues are allowed to display a maximum of 2 of this kind of sign. The second type is for providing directions for reaching the venue’s gaming machine area.
Both types of signs can only be used if they conform to the standards set out below. Venue operators should review their signage to ensure compliance with the criteria for signs below. The issues our inspectors regularly identify include too many signs, the use of illumination to back-light or flood-light signs and having signs that are larger than 2 square metres.
Building signage
Gambling regulations permit the display of a gaming machine-related sign on the exterior of an approved venue if:
- the sign is located on an approved venue
- the sign—or each side of the sign—contains the word ‘Pokies’ (used once) in white text on a single colour background
- the word ‘Pokies’ uses the font such as Helvetica, Arial or other similar font
- the area of the sign—or area of each side of the sign—does not exceed 2 square metres
- the sign—or each side of the sign—does not contain:
- decorative ridges or illumination, embossing, bulges or other irregularities, and
- words, numbers, symbols or pictures that draw attention to the availability of gaming machines for gaming or that are frequently associated with gaming machines
- only one sign is displayed or, if the approved venue has more than one street frontage, no more than 2 signs are displayed.
Directional signage
Gambling regulations also permit directional signage inside, at entrances or at any entrance to a car park used primarily by patrons of an approved venue.
This kind of signage is only permitted if:
- the sign contains text that draws attention to the availability of gaming machines or terms or expressions frequently associated with gaming machines but that text is limited to:
- words
- numbers
- arrow symbols
- a combination of words, numbers and arrow symbols
- the purpose of the sign is to give directions to the location of the gaming machine area
- any words on the sign or—in the case of a double-sided sign—on each side of the sign that refer to the availability of gaming machines or use a term or expression frequently associated with gaming machines do not exceed 0⋅3 of a square metre in size (when measured from the lowest and highest and the leftmost and rightmost extremities of the words)
- the sign contains no other words, numbers, symbols or pictures that draw attention to the availability of gaming machines or that are frequently associated with gaming machines
- in relation to an approved venue, the sign is located:
- inside a building where the gaming machine area is located
- at any entrance to a building in which a gaming machine area is located and the sign is the only sign giving those directions at that entrance
- at any entrance to a car park used primarily by patrons of the approved venue and the sign is the only sign giving those directions at that entrance.
Venue operators may require planning approval when installing new signage and should contact their council about specific permit requirements.
We will investigate venues displaying signs that do not comply with the criteria outlined in this page and may prosecute or take disciplinary action.
If you would like to make a complaint about a gaming venue’s exterior signage, please visit our Complaints page