Gaming machine licences: new applications and changes to existing licences
If you currently hold, or have applied for, any of the following liquor licences you can apply to the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) for a gaming machine licence:
- commercial hotel licence
- community club licence
- subsidiary operator under a commercial special facility licence
- a prescribed liquor licence.
Licence applications are assessed against the requirements of the Gaming Machine Act 1991 and a recommendation is made to the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming. The Commissioner determines whether or not to grant a licence, taking into account the social and community impacts of gaming.
Apply for a new gaming machine licence
You can apply for a new gaming machine licence through the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS).
Note: An application for a gaming machine licence will not be determined until an eligible liquor licence has been granted.
Apply to change an existing gaming machine licence
If you already hold a gaming machine licence, you can apply to make the following changes to your licence:
- increase or decrease in the approved number of gaming machines
- permanent or temporary increase in approved hours of gaming
- approval for additional licensed premises (applies to community clubs only)
- relocate approved gaming machine area
- store gaming machines.
You can apply to change a gaming machine licence through ABLIS.
Requirements for applications of significant community impact
The following are considered to be of significant community impact:
- an application for a gaming machine licence
- an application by a community club for an additional licensed premises
- an application to have the approved number of gaming machines for a licensed premises increased by a significant number (an increase of 10 or more at hotels, an increase of 20 or more at clubs).
Each of these applications must be accompanied by a community impact statement and a statement of responsible service of gambling initiatives for the premises. They must also be advertised.
The advertisement notifies the public of your intention - in relation to the licensed premises - and gives people the chance to comment on your application.
Read more about advertising requirements for gaming machine licence applications.
Gaming machine operating authority (commercial hotels)
If you are a commercial hotel licensee that has been granted a gaming machine licence, or approved to increase the number of gaming machines on your premises, you must obtain an operating authority for each gaming machine for which you were approved to operate.
Gaming machine entitlements (community clubs)
If you are a community club licensee that has been granted a gaming machine licence, or approved to increase the number of gaming machines on your premises, you must obtain an entitlement for each gaming machine for which you were approved to operate.
Also consider...
- Check the fees and charges for Queensland gaming licensing.
- Check pending and recently approved gaming machine licence applications.
- View electronic gaming machine statistics for Queensland.
- Learn more about compliance for gaming machine licensees.
- Read the Gaming Machine Act 1991.
- Find out how penalties for late payment of liquor licence fees affect gaming licensees.
- Last reviewed: 24 Jun 2021
- Last updated: 2 Jan 2024