Stakeholder engagement framework

The NICC stakeholder engagement framework sets out clear principles for the NICC to proactively engage with its key stakeholders to meet defined regulatory and strategic objectives.

Working in partnership is key to the NICC’s capacity for oversight and its ability to make informed decisions. The NICC will create links that enable better, more connected regulation, working closely with Liquor & Gaming NSW, and cooperatively with state and federal agencies, to increase the reach and impact of its activities.

Strategic objectives

The NICC recognises that being a world class regulator requires strong relationships. Engagement is core to delivering its regulatory mission. An engagement program with key stakeholders provides the NICC with opportunities to:

Learn and network with industry peers.
Identify new and emerging risks.
Use regulatory insights to assess vulnerabilities and threats.
Take appropriate regulatory action.
Collaborate with industry to improve risk management and education.

Engagement objectives

The NICC’s key engagement objectives are to:

Ensure a robust and consistent approach to engagement in relation to risks and issues including identification and appropriate management of culture and governance issues in NSW casinos.
Achieve productive engagement with casino operators and an improved focus on outcomes.
Deliver clear and transparent communications in all engagements.
Seek timely responses, ensure appropriate requests are made and interactions are constructive.

The NICC will:

Communicate with casino operators and stakeholders in a manner that is most appropriate for the specific issue at hand e.g. email, phone, online platforms (portal), face to face and virtual meetings.
Seek open communication to gain a deeper understanding of issues and work collaboratively to address, manage and resolve issues.
Keep stakeholders informed of how their interests and issues are being addressed.
Maintain a record of communications with stakeholders as appropriate.
Take a coordinated approach to addressing issues arising from the various levels of engagement.

Expected outcomes

The NICC’s commitment to working constructively with stakeholders seeks to achieve:

Improved performance of casino operators in NSW in line with the public interest.
Adequate supervision of risks and harms arising from casino operations.
An appropriate level of responsiveness in relation to identified risks and issues.
Clear expectations for both the NICC and casino operators.

Our stakeholders

Casino operators and casino groups
Gambling Harm Minimisation Advisory Committee
Inter-state casino regulators
NSW co-regulators
Federal regulators
International gaming regulators
Law enforcement and NSW Government Agencies

Engagement principles

We will:

keep our engagement relevant
focus on problem solving rather than 'box ticking'
share outcomes from stakeholder engagement, including feedback about decisions
maintain the trust of our stakeholders.

We know who our stakeholders are and we make it easy for them to engage.

We will:

ensure that all stakeholders who are impacted by or have an interest in the activities of the NICC are aware of opportunities to engage with us and we make it easy for them to participate
establish and leverage a range of channels to communicate the NICC’s work and look for opportunities to collaborate.

We involve stakeholders from the start and work them at each phase.

We will:

engage stakeholders before final decisions are made and give adequate time for them to participate
close the loop via shared learnings and outcomes.

We are open, accountable and transparent and proactively provide information to our stakeholders.

We will:

disclose relevant information to ensure issues are understood and to allow feedback
keep stakeholders informed and provide feedback on how their input
was considered by NICC.

We provide equal access and remove barriers to participation.

We will:

not advocate for a particular interest or project outcome and ensure that commitments made to stakeholders are made in good faith
make fair and transparent decisions under the Act.

Success measures

The NICC has a mechanism to provide feedback to stakeholders.
The NICC has a stakeholder engagement program outlining specific opportunities for engagement.
The NICC is held accountable for acting on feedback and insights gathered.
Data exchange between government agencies is strengthened to support compliance and enforcement activities.
Stakeholder collaboration creates options that can be considered and tested for improved regulatory outcomes.