RSA or RCG — which one does your job need?
RSA covers serving alcohol, RCG covers gaming machines. Which one your job needs, what you receive, and when you need both.
Written byEdway
The short answer
Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) is for selling, serving or supplying alcohol. Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) is for work involving gaming machines in New South Wales.
If your job includes both alcohol service and gaming-machine duties, you need both credentials.
RSA covers alcohol service
RSA is unit SITHFAB021 Provide responsible service of alcohol. Licensed venues use it for staff who sell, serve or supply alcohol, including pubs, clubs, restaurants, bottle shops and event venues.
The training covers liquor rules, responsible service, refusing service and reducing alcohol-related harm.
New South Wales offers classroom and self-paced RSA. Victoria’s Edway RSA is online and self-paced. Choose your state on the course page because the documents and post-course steps differ.
RCG covers gaming machines
RCG is unit SITHGAM022 Provide responsible gambling services. In New South Wales, it applies to work involving gaming machines, including gaming-floor duties and paying out winnings.
The course covers the New South Wales rules, gambling harm and how to respond to patrons. You must be at least 18 to work with gaming machines.
When you need both
Many hotels and clubs combine bar and gaming duties. In that situation, RSA does not include RCG and RCG does not include RSA, so you need both.
If you only serve alcohol, RSA is the relevant course. If you work only with gaming machines in New South Wales, RCG is the relevant course.
Advanced RCG comes later
Advanced RCG is for Responsible Gambling Officers and certain senior gaming roles in New South Wales. Complete RCG first; it is a mandatory prerequisite.
Advanced RCG is a Liquor & Gaming NSW course rather than a nationally accredited unit. It adds an endorsement to the New South Wales competency card.
Victoria has no Edway RCG
Edway offers RSA in Victoria but does not offer RCG there. The Victorian RSA path also uses a Liquor Control Victoria Certificate of Completion rather than the New South Wales competency card.
In New South Wales, RSA and RCG are delivered and issued by Edway Training (RTO 91401), a Liquor & Gaming NSW Approved Training Provider.
Next step
For alcohol service, start with RSA and choose your state. For gaming-machine work in New South Wales, add RCG.
If your role requires the senior endorsement, ask Liquor & Gaming NSW about Advanced RCG after completing RCG.
Sources
- Liquor & Gaming NSW — training requirements for liquor and gamingWho must hold RSA and RCG in New South Wales, the online assessment, and the Advanced RCG requirement
- Liquor & Gaming NSW — competency cardsCompetency card, interim certificate, 5-year validity and refresher renewal
- Victorian Government — RSA training (Liquor Control Victoria)Victorian RSA Certificate of Completion, the Learning Hub steps and the 3-year refresher
- training.gov.au — SITHFAB021 and SITHGAM022Unit codes and official titles
