Who Needs the Advanced RCG Course and Why It’s Critical for Venue Leaders

When you walk into a gaming or hospitality venue in Sydney or anywhere across New South Wales (NSW), odds are the stakes are higher than just chips and cards. If you're a venue leader, such as a licensee, gaming floor manager, approved manager or supervisor, you’re carrying the weight of a community’s safety and your venue’s reputation. 

In this post, we share the key information about who needs the advanced RCG course and why it’s critical for venue leaders to get advanced RCG training. Ensuring compliance isn’t just a legal requirement; it’s essential for long-term success.

Who Needs the Advanced RCG Course?

The advanced RCG course (also called ARCG or Advanced Responsible Conduct of Gambling) is not for every role, but it’s non-negotiable for certain ones. If any of these descriptions match you, this course should be on your radar:

• Responsible Gambling Officers (RGOs): By NSW law, venues with gaming machines must have RGOs on duty when those machines are operating.

• Senior staff in venues with gaming operations: Gaming floor managers and supervisors responsible for monitoring patrons, handling complaints or dealing with aggressive/disruptive behaviour.

• Venue licensees and approved managers: If you oversee gaming machine policy or have licensing responsibilities, you’ll likely need the advanced responsible gambling certificate.

• Staff responsible for overseeing responsible gambling policies or compliance standards: Anyone tasked with establishing or managing your venue’s Gambling Plan of Management or ensuring staff know how to identify gambling harm.

If you have standard RCG training already, that’s valuable—but advanced RCG training equips you with deeper skills to lead, mentor, manage crises, and uphold compliance in a more proactive way.

Why It’s Critical for Venue Leaders

You may wonder why, beyond just ticking a legal box, advanced RCG training is so important. Here are the sharp, practical reasons:

1. Legal / Regulatory Compliance

The NSW Liquor & Gaming reforms require venues (especially those with 20+ gaming machine entitlements) to have at least one RGO on duty. RGOs must have the ARCG endorsement. 

Failing to meet these criteria can lead to fines, penalties, or restrictions. Your licence and your venue’s good standing depend on it.

2. Preventing and Managing High-Intensity Situations 

The advanced RCG course teaches you how to anticipate patron behaviour that could spiral, such as anger, aggression, distress, suicidal ideation and how to respond effectively. It also strengthens interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.

3. Strong Leadership & Culture Building

As a venue leader, you set the tone. Advanced RCG certification helps you guide junior staff, embed a culture of harm minimisation, shape your venue’s policies and practices and ensure everyone understands RCG compliance standards.

4. Community Reputation and Trust

Patrons (and the public more broadly) increasingly expect venues to be socially responsible. A venue known for robust responsible gambling policies attracts customers who feel safer and supported. This builds loyalty and reduces risk.

5. Risk Mitigation for the Venue

When staff are trained in advanced RCG, you reduce the likelihood of incidents that could escalate to legal or reputational disasters. Early detection of gambling harm can prevent severe outcomes for patrons, reducing your exposure.

Key Details: What the Advanced RCG Course Involves

To make sure you know what you're signing up for, here are important specifics:

• The advanced RCG course typically runs for about 6 hours (excluding breaks).

• It includes face-to-face or virtual (live) delivery by NSW-approved trainers.

• You must already hold a standard RCG competency (Provide Responsible Gambling Services).

• On successful completion, you receive an ARCG endorsement added to your NSW digital competency card, plus a certificate.

How to Get Advanced RCG Certification in NSW

• Confirm you meet pre-requisites: standard RCG, being 18+, etc.

• Choose an approved RTO that offers ARCG (face-to-face or live virtual). Edway Training is licensed with Liquor & Gaming NSW, so check if we’re delivering it / will deliver it.

• Schedule the course (one day, 6+ hours).

• Complete assessments, role-plays, discussions and exercises. 

• ARCG is not nationally recognised as a unit, but it is required in NSW under gaming laws.

FAQs

What’s The Difference Between RCG and Advanced RCG?

RCG (Responsible Conduct of Gambling) is the standard course required for anyone working in a venue with gaming machines. Advanced RCG (ARCG) goes deeper: leadership, handling intense patron situations, mentoring staff, managing risk and legal obligations under the new regulatory regimes.

Do I Need Advanced RCG if I am Just a Bar Manager or Supervisor?

If your venue has gaming machines or you oversee staff who work with gaming functions, yes. Supervisors or floor managers are frequently required. It depends on the size of your establishment (number of machines) and whether you are designated as an RGO.

How Often Must ARCG Be Refreshed?

There isn’t always a separate “refresher” for ARCG in the sense of a different course, but your competency card and all entries under it (including ARCG) must stay valid. NSW requires that all competency endorsements expire on the same date. You may need to do an RCG refresher or maintain compliance through other means.

Is Advanced RCG Valid Outside NSW?

No, ARCG is specific to NSW Liquor & Gaming regulations. If you work in another state, check that state's gambling and gaming laws.

Your Next Steps

If you are a venue leader, licensee, manager, supervisor or hold oversight duties over gaming operations in NSW, the advanced RCG course isn’t optional. It’s your shield against legal risk, a tool to build safe environments and a statement that your venue cares. As regulatory requirements evolve, being proactive will protect your business, staff and patrons, so make the advanced RCG training a core part of your leadership strategy.

Lead with confidence – enrol in advanced RCG training today.