Liquor and Gaming New South Wales (L&GNSW) is seeking public input ahead of a scheduled overhaul of lottery regulations in the state.
The development comes amid wider public scrutiny of Australian lotteries, with a four-decade contract in the neighbouring state of Victoria feeling the pressure.
An L&GNSW statement referred to the forthcoming expiration of the ten-year old Public Lotteries Regulation on 1 September 2026, which will require the state regulator to renew regulations.
The regulator asserts that it needs to support the legislative framework of lottery regulation, ensure it remains fit for purpose, and ensure public lotteries are managed and conducted personally and in line with community interests and expectations.
The authority is also prioritising harm minimisation measures by lottery companies.
“Public consultation is a key part of the process and the draft Public Lotteries Regulation 2026 and Regulatory Impact Statement will be open for consultation until Friday 10 July,” L&GNSW’s statement read.
“It is proposed that the regulation will retain most of the existing provisions with some minor amendments to modernise the regulatory framework, remove outdated provisions and improve clarity, consistency and effectiveness.
“Before the draft regulation can be remade, legislation requires a formal process of review be undertaken, which includes consultation with the public, interest groups, and industry or businesses likely to be affected by the draft regulation.”
Public lotteries in NSW are exclusively operated by The Lottery Corporation (TLC), based in Brisbane, Queensland, and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
TLC came into being in 2022 when Tabcorp, the market leading betting and gaming operator in Australia, divested its lotteries and keno business to become a standalone entity.
Tabocorp had merged with Tatts Group, the exclusive operator of the NSW lottery, in 2017.
TLC has quickly become the dominant force in Australian lotteries, with contracts in NSW, South Australia, Queensland the Capital Territory and Tasmania.
The only state/territory it does not run the lottery in is Western Australia, where the honours are held by Lottowest.
However, as mentioned above, its 40-year contract with the Victorian government has come under scrutiny, with political opponents of the Labor administration criticising the duration of the contract and the absence of any public tender.