Licensing NT newsletter: November 2025

Licensees are reminded to lodge applications for Christmas trading or festive season events at least 30 days before the event date.

Please note that different trading hours apply on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, depending on your licence authority.

Applications submitted late may incur a late fee.

Christmas day trading hours

For club, public bar, restaurant, and restaurant bar authorities:

• Trading is permitted 11 am to 9 pm, only when liquor is sold with a full meal.

New Year’s Eve trading hours

For restaurant, club, restaurant bar, public bar and small bar authorities

• Trading is permitted 12:00am to 2:00am.

Extensions for late-night authorities

• Late night authority: may be extended to 3 am.
• Extended late-night authority: may be extended to 5 am.
• Lockout times remain unchanged.
• Licensees must notify the Director of Liquor Licensing by 3 December each year to access the additional hour.

If your licence type differs, please check your liquor licence for your permitted trading hours.

Notifications can be made via email to: directorliquorlicensing.dth@nt.gov.au.

Licensing NT continues to deliver strong regulatory oversight through its experienced gaming compliance team, responsible for ensuring compliance across casinos, gaming machines, keno in hotels and clubs, and online gaming licensees.

In carrying out its compliance functions under the Gaming Control Act 1993 and the Gaming Machine Act 1995, the team remains focused on one of its key objectives, minimising the potential social harms associated with gaming.

Recently, the Director of Gaming Machines considered the issue of advertising and promoting gaming machine jackpots in hotels and clubs. In line with the NT Code of Practice for Responsible Gambling 2022 (Code), the Director has determined that advertising or promoting current jackpots on social media constitutes an “inducement to engage in gaming” and is therefore prohibited. This includes online promotions such as posts or advertisements on platforms like Facebook.

In relation to any proposed gaming promotions or advertising, for any matters that are unclear or not covered in the Code, licensees should email gamingmachineact@nt.gov.au prior and seek clarification.

The team remains committed to maintaining the integrity of the NT gaming industry and supporting responsible gambling initiatives. A recent highlight includes the team’s participation on a panel at the launch of Gambling Harm Awareness Week 2025, reflecting its ongoing dedication to community engagement and harm minimisation.

The NT Government has completed a Strategic Review of the Northern Territory Racing Industry, setting the stage for stronger governance, long-term sustainability, and future growth.

Commissioned in December 2024, the review supports the government’s ongoing commitment to creating local jobs, driving tourism, and strengthening the economy, with the racing industry already contributing more than $160 million each year.

Key reforms include:

• Establishing a new governing body, Racing NT (RNT), with an independent, skills-based board to oversee thoroughbred and greyhound racing. ​
• A new funding agreement providing industry certainty through to 2032. ​
• Multi-year funding agreements for major clubs to ensure sustainability. ​
• ​Refining race scheduling to enhance field sizes, wagering returns, and prize money. ​

Additional initiatives will explore shared services between clubs, improved commercial use of racecourse land, a greyhound rehoming partnership with South Australia, and new training pathways to attract and retain industry participants.

Read the government response report PDF (873.7 KB).

The next round of major grant funding from the community benefit fund will open on 1 January 2026 and close on 28 February 2026, with successful applicants notified by 30 April 2026.

If you're part of a Territory-based not-for-profit organisation and could use a funding boost, this is a fantastic opportunity to apply for a Community Benefit Fund grant. Keep in mind that this round is highly competitive and typically oversubscribed, so you’ll need to apply to be in with a chance. In 2024/25, 60 applicants secured over $7 million in funding through the Major Community Grants program.

For full details, including eligibility criteria and application guidelines, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Here, you can access the “community benefit fund major community grants” section and explore other funding opportunities available through the community benefit fund.

As Russell Goldflam nears the end of his final term as chairperson of the Northern Territory Liquor Commission, Licensing NT would like to thank him for his leadership, commitment, and the positive impact he has made over the years.

Since the commission began in 2018, Russell has been a steady and thoughtful guide in its work to reduce alcohol-related harm across the Territory. His balanced and compassionate approach has helped drive real progress, even through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Russell’s dedication to the wellbeing of Territorians and his passion for creating safer, healthier communities have made a lasting difference.

We thank Russell for his contributions and wish him all the best for the future.