Community Benefit Payment Scheme
Community benefit payments fund programs for not-for-profits and registered charities that support the social wellbeing of the local community.
Your organisation could receive funding for the programs you offer around responsible gambling, problem gambling, health and crisis services.
We may also provide community benefit payments to statewide or regionally based organisations that provide a benefit for the local community.
How the Community Benefit Payment Scheme works
When a venue applies to Liquor & Gaming NSW to increase the gaming machines on its premises, it must also complete a Local Impact Assessment (LIA). The LIA examines the impact that the additional machines may have in your community. The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority uses the LIA to determine if approving the application will have an overall positive impact on your community.
If the application is approved, the venue must make community benefit payments to the Responsible Gambling Fund (RGF). The payments are calculated and fixed. They may be a single, one-off payment or an annual payment for up to 5 years.
The RGF then distributes those funds to organisations in the venue’s local community. If your organisation is a not-for-profit or registered charity that supports the social wellbeing of the local community, you may be eligible for a community benefit payment.
How the RGF allocates community benefit payments
The RGF forms a community contribution panel to determine what organisations would benefit and make recommendations to the Minister. It makes sure that the allocation of funds as a result of a gaming machine increase is transparent, and payments are specifically targeted at gambling harm minimisation, health and social related services for the local community.
Community contribution panels consist of a local community representative (say, a Local Government or Health representative), responsible gambling experts (a GambleAware counselling service), a departmental representative and an RGF Trustee.
Criteria for assessing your community organisation
- Generally, payments are made to not-for-profit organisations and registered charities that support the social wellbeing of the local community. They’re usually a one-off offer to help those organisations to continue and further their work in the community.
- Assessment criteria include your organisation’s service model and your organisation’s ability to use the funds you receive on gambling harm minimisation, health and social related services for the local community.
- Payments are often tied to specific project outcomes, like responsible gambling education or services directed to gamblers.
How to register your interest
If this sounds like your organisation, put up your hand for a future community benefit payment by completing a short questionnaire and we’ll make sure you’re on our list.
Upcoming community contribution panels
These applications have been approved by ILGA, and community contribution panels will be convened when the venues commence trading:
- Woolgoolga Beach Tavern
- Burwood Social House
- Homebush Hotel
- The Greens Gledswood Hills
- The Grove Social House
These applications have been approved by ILGA, and community contribution panels will be convened:
- Park Beach Hotel
- St George Motor Boat Club
- Mollymook Golf Club
- The Ingleburn Hotel
Meet past community benefit payment recipients
Hawkesbury Area Women’s & Kids Services Collective
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Counselling, support and emergency relief for people affected by domestic violence with a focus on the Hawkesbury Community.
- Hawkesbury Sexual Violence Prevention Network (HSVPN) program, activities and education for sexual violence prevention, and support for sexual violence victims with a focus on Aboriginal communities in the Hawkesbury region
- Cross-referrals and collaboration with RGF-funded gambling treatment and support services and GambleAware Blue Mountains & Western Sydney
$109,475 per annum for 2 years with review in mid-2024
LIA: Bligh Park Tavern and Windsor Country Club
Moving Forward DFV Case Management Services
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Case management and support for people affected by domestic and family violence (DFV) in the Georges River and Bayside areas in consultation with local culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) organisations
- Parenting workshops
- Cross-referral to complementary support services and RGF-funded gambling and financial counselling services
$59,614.18 per annum for 2 years with review in early 2023
LIA: St George Motor Boat Club
Coffs-Clarence Police District
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Youth Active Rewards Program (YARP), focusing on the Sawtell and Toormina communities
- Cross-referral to complementary youth services
$30,475.16 per annum for 2 years with review in early 2023
LIA: Sawtell Hotel
LeaderLife
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Youth engagement programs, focusing on the Dubbo community
- Cross-referrals to complementary youth services
$29,807.09 per annum for 2 years with review in early 2024
LIA: Commercial Hotel Dubbo & Dubbo Golf Club
Orana Mid-Western Police District
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Project Walwaay, focusing on the Dubbo community
- Cross-referral to complementary youth services
$29,807.09 per annum for 2 years with review in late 2023
LIA: Commercial Hotel Dubbo & Dubbo Golf Club
Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Community engagement with a particular focus on youth in the Wauchope community
- Financial counselling and emergency support for disadvantaged people in the Wauchope community
- Cross-referral to complementary youth services
$39,550.96 per annum for 2 years with review in late 2023
LIA: Hastings Hotel
The Burdekin Association
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Case management support, focusing on education and employment for youth in the Dee Why area
- Workshops for youth in the Dee Why area to develop wellbeing and life skills
- Cross-referrals to RGF-funded therapeutic and financial gambling counselling services
$40,000 per annum for 2 years with review in late 2022
LIA: Dee Why RSL
Southern Youth and Family Services Limited
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- CHAIN (Community Health for Adolescents In Need) program supporting youth in the Wollongong community
- Support for homeless people, including case management and crisis response
- Cross-referrals to RGF-funded therapeutic and financial gambling counselling services
$78,374.94 per annum for 2 years with review in late 2022
LIA: Dicey Riley’s
Bankstown Women’s Health Centre
Project objectives
- Primary prevention programs, case management and support for domestic violence sufferers
- Gambling education and awareness, and cross-referrals to therapeutic and financial gambling counselling in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA
1st year – $91,426.62
2nd year – $137,139.93
Funding for 2 years with a review in late 2022
LIA: Hurlstone Park Hotel
Canterbury Earlwood Caring Association
Project objectives
- Parenting and youth engagement and early intervention programs targeting early school leavers aged 11–14 with a focus on the Hurlstone Park area
- Gambling education and awareness, and cross-referrals to therapeutic and financial gambling counselling in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA
1st year – $91,426.62
2nd year – $137,139.93
Funding for 2 years with a review in late 2022
LIA: Hurlstone Park Hotel
Community Restorative Centre
Project objectives
- “Locked Out” program, supporting Muslim communities impacted by incarceration
- Support and case management for individuals and families impacted by the criminal justice system, with a focus on the Hurlstone Park area
- Gambling education and awareness, and cross-referrals to therapeutic and financial gambling counselling in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA
1st year – $91,426.62
2nd year – $137,139.93
Funding for 2 years with a review in mid 2022
LIA: Hurlstone Park Hotel
Belmont Neighbourhood Centre
Program focus to include one or more
- Primary prevention programs and community education on domestic violence
- Youth engagement programs and early intervention
- Community outreach to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities and gambling education and awareness, and/or
- Cross-referrals to therapeutic and financial gambling counselling in the Lake Macquarie City LGA
$44,834.79 per annum for 2 years with review in late 2022
LIA: Belmont Hotel
Warrina Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness, including CALD and Aboriginal outreach and support program
- Support, advocacy and counselling for victims of domestic violence and their families, including case management and cross-referral to RGF-funded services
$70,304.40 per annum for 2 years (funding complete)
LIA: Seaview Tavern & Park Beach Hotel
Relationships Australia (NSW)
Project objectives
- “Taking Responsibility” program, for implementation within the Newcastle LGA
- Cross-referral to RGF-funded gambling and counselling services (including Warruwi services where appropriate)
$87,546.20 per annum for 2 years with review in mid-2021
LIA: Sydney Junction Hotel
Nepean Community and Neighbourhood Services
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Cross-referrals to RGF-funded services for gambling help and other local community services (including Warruwi services)
- Support for vulnerable people to attend health services especially gambling harm minimisation, health and social related services, including community transport and short-term ad hoc child care
$71,825.87 per annum for 2 years with review in early 2021
LIA: Kingswood Hotel
Macarthur Family & Youth Services
Project objectives
- Case management and cross-referral to RGF-funded Gambling Help services including financial counselling and Warruwi services
- Gambling education and awareness
$61,380 per annum for 5 years
LIA: Ruse Tavern
Macarthur Gateway Resource Services (M.A.R.C.I.A. Women’s Refuge Incorporated)
Project objectives
- Case management and advocacy support for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women experiencing domestic violence and/or homelessness
- Cross-referral to RGF-funded Gambling Help services including financial counselling and Warruwi services
- Gambling education and awareness
$61,380 per annum for 2 years with review in 2022
LIA: Ruse Tavern
Burwood Community Welfare Services
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness (as a complement to existing domestic violence advocacy and family support program)
- Cross-referral service to gambling and financial counselling, including to RGF-funded Gambling Help services
$49,406.67 per annum for 5 years
LIA: Bath Arms Hotel
Metro Assist (Campsie)
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness for diverse communities
- Cross-referral service to gambling and financial counselling, including to RGF-funded Gambling Help services
$49,406.67 per annum for 2 years with review in late 2022
LIA: Bath Arms Hotel
Mount Druitt Community Health Centre
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Cross-referral to RGF-funded gambling help services, including Warruwi services where appropriate
- Cross-referral with local expert services, e.g. local Aboriginal and CALD organisations
1st year – $87,679.50
2nd year – $131,519.25
Funding for 2 years with a review in 2022
LIA: The Marsden Brewhouse
Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre and Community Aid Service
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Cross-referral to RGF-funded gambling help services, including Warruwi services where appropriate
- Cross-referral with local expert services, e.g. local Aboriginal and CALD organisations
1st year – $87,679.50
2nd year – $131,519.25
3rd year - $175,359 Funding for 3 years with a review in late 2023
LIA: The Marsden Brewhouse
The WASH (Women’s Activities And Self Help) House
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Support services (including counselling support) to female victims of domestic violence
- Cross-referral with local expert services, e.g. local Aboriginal and CALD organisations
1st year – $87,679.50
2nd year – $131,519.25
Funding for 2 years with a review in 2022
LIA: The Marsden Brewhouse
Focus Connect (formerly Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative)
Project objectives
- Delivery of projects, programs or services within the Camden community with outcomes targeting gambling harm minimisation, including prevention and awareness, and health and social related services
- Service is to be operated in partnership with Camden Council for the benefit of the community within the Camden LGA
$31,338 per annum for 2 years with review in 2022
LIA: Lakeside Golf Club
Molonglo Support Services (previously St Benedict’s Community Centre)*
Project objectives
- Program that targets homelessness and improves social wellbeing and support
1st year – Purchase of a bus to provide overnight accommodation for the homeless
2nd year – Maintenance and operation costs of the bus
$37,458 per annum for 2 years (funding complete)
LIA: Queanbeyan Bowling Club
*St Benedict’s Community Centre declined the funding, provided to Molonglo Support Services as an alternative organisation to carry out the same project objectives.
Community and Cultural Connections
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Alternative venue located within the Addison road complex for CALD community members to access, cross-referral to CALD gambling help services
- Partner with existing, ORG-funded Gambling Help services to reach specific communities: Vietnamese, Portuguese, emerging Nepalese community
$35,000 per annum for 5 years
LIA: The Crown and Emperor Hotel
Innari – Aboriginal Homelessness Support Service
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Case management and cross-referral to complementary services
$70,000 per annum for 2 years with review in 2022
LIA: The Crown and Emperor Hotel
Marrickville Community Mental Health Service
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Case management and cross-referral to complementary services
$65,000 per annum for 2 years (funding complete)
LIA: The Crown and Emperor Hotel
Marrickville Legal Centre
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Case management and cross-referral to complementary services
$65,000 per annum for 5 years
LIA: The Crown and Emperor Hotel
Marrickville Youth Resource Centre
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Programs to support the centre as an alternative venue for youth to access
$45,000 per annum for 5 years
LIA: The Crown and Emperor Hotel
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
Project objectives
- Gambling education and awareness
- Case management and cross-referral to complementary services
$75,000 per annum for 5 years
LIA: The Crown and Emperor Hotel
Robinvale District Health Services
Project objectives
- Social Worker/counsellor at the Robinvale District Local Health Service
$254,293 per annum for 2 years (funding complete)
LIA: Euston Bowling & Recreation Club