GAMING

• Can you have a coffee machine/station set up in the gaming room? 
  Yes, if it is a one touch machine and you have disposable cups and stirrers.
   
• Can I add extra stools to the gaming room if I have patrons that are relatives and/or close friends that want to play the same machine? 
  No.  The number of stools in the room need to match the number of operating machines.  This requirement can be found in the Hotels and Clubs Covid-Safe Industry Plan that has been approved by government.
   
• My gaming room is in a small country town where everyone knows everyone.  Does this mean there is no requirement to social distance and therefore all of my machines can be on? 
  You must still comply with the 1.5m social distancing requirement unless the patrons are a relative or a close friend/associate.  It is not enough that they just know the other person.
   
• Can I serve snacks in the gaming room? 
  You cannot have communal food/snacks.  However you can serve patrons individual snacks.
   
• Can relatives and/or close friends play machines alongside one another?  Yes.
   
• What do we do if people don’t sign in when entering the gaming room?  You cannot force someone to sign in.  However if they don’t you will need to record on the register that an unknown male/female entered the gaming room.
   
• Do we need a sign directing people to sign into the gaming room? 
  Yes.  SAPOL are actively checking on this at the moment.
   
• If we don’t have a cashier or particular staff in the gaming room, how do we manage the sign in register? 
  You will need to have clear signage directing patrons that want to enter the gaming room to the bar or a staff member as there is a requirement that they sign in.  Where a gaming room is unmanned you should have at least one other staff member that has view of the gaming room.
   
• Is it really 1.5m social distancing? 
  You must make your best efforts to ensure that patrons are socially distanced based on the 1.5m rule.
   
• How long do we have to do all of this Covid stuff for? 
  Until you are advised that you no longer need to, which will probably be when restrictions are lifted.  There is no time frame in place for that at the moment.
   
• How long do we need to keep the completed sign in records for? 
  You need to keep them until you are advised otherwise.
   
• Do we have to turn machines off or can we just manage them ourselves?  You do not need to actually turn off or disable machines.  You can manage their operation yourself through the use of ‘out of operation’ signage.
   
• Who is actually checking that we are doing the right thing? 
  SAPOL and they are definitely out and about, with a particular focus on social distancing and sign in registers.

OTHER FAQ’S

• Can we set tables with cutlery?
  Yes. But you cannot use communal cutlery baskets.
   
• Can we have salt and pepper shakers on tables?
  Yes provided they are sanitised between settings.
   
• Can we have shared platters?
  No as a general rule. A couple or family sharing a pizza for example is OK, but avoid “shared” platters and plates. Finger food etc at functions is not allowed unless staff members distribute it.
   
• Cutlery baskets/bread roll baskets?
  No
   
• Communal coffee?
  Yes but only IF it is a one-touch machine with disposable cups and sugar is in sachets. Otherwise no.
   
• Stand up drinking? Yes this now allowed.
   
• Sitting at the bar? Yes this is now allowed.
   
• Dancing?
  Under no circumstances can you allow dancing IF liquor is being sold anywhere in the licensed premises. You cannot have “dance areas” unless the entire premises is not selling liquor at all.
   
• Do I have to cordon off dance floors? Our suggestion is to ensure that it is difficult to dance. Use tables, chairs, queue dividers etc to ensure that it is clear that the dance floor is “off limits” for dancing.