ARCG stands for Advanced Responsible Conduct of Gambling. It’s a mandatory course for Responsible Gambling Officers and people who work in senior roles in a NSW hotel or club with gaming machine.
The rules around who needs an ARCG, when they need it by, and how it sits alongside your existing competency card can be confusing. This guide covers who needs an ARCG, what the course involves, what it costs, how to add it to your competency card, and when it expires.
What is ARCG?
The Advanced Responsible Conduct of Gambling course is NSW gambling training for people in senior gaming roles. It is the step up from the Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) course that all gaming staff in NSW must hold, and it focuses on gambling harm minimisation techniques and managing staff to help them identify instances of gambling harm.
RCG teaches the basics of minimising gambling harm, promoting responsible gambling and your own responsibilities when working in a gaming area. ARCG teaches how to support other staff, conflict resolution and developing a culture of responsible gambling. It helps you support and lead your team to a culture of proactive gambling harm minimisation.
ARCG is delivered by training providers approved by Liquor & Gaming NSW, and it is trainer-led rather than self-paced.
Who needs an ARCG in NSW?
ARCG training is mandatory for Responsible Gambling Officers (RGO). At least one RGO is required for all hotels and clubs with 20 or more gaming machines. People in senior operational roles within hotels and clubs that have gaming machines should complete ARCG as well.
In practice, that covers:
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Responsible Gambling Officer (RGO)
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Staff who want to act as an RGO
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Hotel licensees
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Approved managers
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Club secretaries
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Duty managers and senior staff overseeing gaming operations
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Gaming floor managers responsible for managing gaming machine operations
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Directors of a company that owns a hotel, where the director has an operational role (unless an RGBO course has been completed)
The important thing to understand is that the requirement is not only about machine numbers. Hotel licensees, approved managers and club secretaries are covered by the senior-role requirement even where the venue operates a smaller number of machines. The machine threshold determines how many RGOs a venue needs on duty, not whether senior staff need the training.
What is a Responsible Gambling Officer?
A Responsible Gambling Officer is a designated staff member responsible for monitoring the gaming area for signs of gambling harm and engaging with patrons who may need support.
Since 1 July 2024, hotels and clubs with more than 20 gaming machine entitlements have been required to have an RGO on duty at all times while gaming machines are operating. Clubs with more than 100 entitlements are required to have additional RGOs on duty.
To carry out RGO duties, a person must have completed ARCG training and hold an ARCG endorsement on their NSW competency card.
An RGO can be an existing staff member provided they meet the requirements of the role and have the capacity to focus on RGO duties while rostered.
Do I need an RCG before an ARCG?
Yes. Holding a current NSW RCG competency is a prerequisite for enrolling in ARCG. You cannot book into an ARCG course without it.
If you do not hold an RCG yet, that is the first step. You can complete your RCG course with CTA Training Specialists and then enrol in ARCG once your endorsement is in place. We even offer a discount for people who are booking both together, simply add both courses to your cart and the discount will be automatically applied.
If your RCG has lapsed, you will need to sort that out before booking.
How do I get an ARCG?
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Check you hold a current RCG endorsement.
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Book with an approved training provider. ARCG can only be delivered by a training provider approved by Liquor & Gaming NSW. You can check the list of approved training providers on the NSW Government website
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Complete the course. ARCG is trainer-led and runs for a full day. Full attendance is required.
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Add the endorsement to your competency card.
To confirm any provider is accredited, search training.gov.au under 'Registered training organisation'. CTA Training Specialists appears under our registered company name, Servir Group Pty Ltd. Check the status is 'Current' and that the relevant unit is listed.
Can I do the ARCG online?
ARCG is not a self-paced online course.
It is a one-day course delivered either in a virtual classroom by video conference, or face to face. The virtual option means you do not need to travel, and it is what makes the course accessible to people in regional and rural NSW. At CTA Training Specialists, all our ARCG courses are delivered in this fashion.
What does the ARCG course cover?
ARCG focuses on:
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Managing complex patron interactions in high-intensity situations. Approaching a patron showing signs of gambling harm, handling an angry or distressed patron, and dealing with concerned family members.
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Using behavioural models to support decision-making. Recognising patterns rather than relying on instinct.
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Making ethical decisions where the legislation does not give clear guidance.
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Designing and managing harm minimisation systems.
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Identifying, approaching and assisting patrons showing signs of at-risk gambling.
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Referring patrons to appropriate support services, including self-exclusion.
How long is the ARCG course?
ARCG runs for 6 hours including a lunch break. Attendance for the entire session is required.
How much does the ARCG cost?
Our ARCG costs $300.
Does my ARCG expire?
Your NSW competency card expires five years after it is issued.
There is one detail here that catches people out. If you hold more than one endorsement on your card, they all expire on the same date, five years from the earliest endorsement you received. Adding an ARCG does not reset the clock or give that endorsement its own five-year term. It inherits the expiry date already on your card.
That means the ARCG you completed this year could have considerably less than five years left on it, depending on when you did your RSA or RCG. It is worth checking your card's expiry date rather than assuming.
How do I add ARCG to my competency card?
Once you have completed the course and if you hold a digital competency card, the ARCG endorsement will be automatically added to your digital card free of cost.
Ready to book?
If you hold a current RCG and need your ARCG, you can book your ARCG course here.
If you have a question this guide did not answer, let us know.
