Clubs & Hospitality Insurance

Managing risks associated with gaming facilities and patron interactions. Gaming facilities create concentrated patron interaction in a controlled environment. Disputes over machine payouts, allegations of problem gambling, patron disturbances, and slip and fall incidents in gaming areas are all documented sources of claims for clubs. The interface between patron safety obligations and gaming regulatory compliance adds a layer of complexity that general liability policies do not always address adequately.

Safeguarding valuable historical items and club assets. War memorabilia and heritage items are often irreplaceable and difficult to value accurately. Standard contents insurance may not adequately cover items with historical or sentimental value that exceed their market price. Agreed value arrangements and specialist valuations are worth considering for clubs with significant collections.

Protecting volunteer directors and committee members in their governance roles. Volunteer committee members of RSL clubs and community organisations can face personal exposure for decisions made in their governance roles – employment disputes, financial mismanagement allegations, WHS obligations, and statutory compliance failures can all give rise to claims against individual committee members. Management liability insurance specifically addresses this exposure.

Managing risks from ANZAC Day ceremonies, fundraisers, and community gatherings. ANZAC Day ceremonies, Remembrance Day services, fundraising events, and community gatherings bring additional people onto your premises under circumstances outside your normal operating routine. Public liability cover needs to respond to these events, and some policies impose conditions or exclusions for events above certain patron numbers. We review these conditions as part of every program assessment.

Addressing food service and kitchen-related exposures. Food service operations introduce a specific liability exposure: food-borne illness claims. A single incident affecting multiple patrons can generate a significant number of claims simultaneously. Temperature control failures, contamination events, and allergen mislabelling are all real exposures for club bistros and catering facilities.

Covering events, performances, and private functions.

Understanding liability related to alcohol service. Serving alcohol creates a duty of care that extends beyond the moment of service. Under host responsibility obligations across Australian states, venues can face liability for incidents involving intoxicated patrons that occur after they leave your premises. The specific terms of liquor liability cover within your public liability policy matter – not all policies respond equally to these situations.

Appropriate cover for older, sometimes heritage-listed premises.

Coverage for patron injuries, alcohol service incidents, third-party property damage, and liability claims arising from venue operations and licensed activities. For clubs and licensed venues, the key issues in public liability are patron incidents and liquor service liability. Standard public liability policies vary significantly in how they respond to incidents involving intoxicated patrons, allegations of over-service, and third-party incidents occurring away from your premises. We review the liquor liability provisions within every policy we place for licensed venue clients to ensure the cover responds appropriately to your actual risk exposure.

Protection for buildings, heritage-listed venues, fit-outs, kitchen equipment, gaming machines, furniture, stock, memorabilia, and all physical assets within your venue. Older club premises – particularly RSL clubs and established community clubs – often involve heritage-listed or non-standard construction that insurers approach with caution. Underinsurance is a common issue: replacement cost values for older buildings are frequently higher than owners expect, particularly where matching materials or heritage approvals are required. We advise on appropriate sum insured levels and review valuation currency as part of every renewal.

Cover for lost income, gaming revenue, bar takings, and ongoing expenses if your venue cannot operate due to insured events like fire or flood. For clubs that depend heavily on gaming revenue and bar takings, a forced closure can be financially devastating within weeks. Business interruption cover needs to reflect your actual revenue mix – including gaming machine income, which is a significant proportion of revenue for many Queensland clubs. Indemnity period selection is critical: a major fire or flood event can keep a venue closed for 12 to 24 months, and a policy with a 6-month indemnity period will leave a significant gap.

Protection for committee members, directors, and the organisation against employment claims, statutory liability allegations, and governance-related disputes. For volunteer-run organisations, management liability is often the most overlooked and most important cover in the program. Committee members and directors of clubs and associations can face personal liability for employment decisions, financial mismanagement, breach of statutory duty, and governance failures. Many volunteers assume they are protected by their role in a not-for-profit organisation. That assumption is not always correct, and the personal financial consequences of an uninsured claim can be severe.

Cover for RSL volunteers, committee members, and unpaid workers injured whilst undertaking club activities, events, or maintenance work.

Protection for coolroom systems, kitchen appliances, HVAC systems, gaming machines, and essential equipment critical to daily venue operations.

Coverage for data breaches, member information theft, gaming system attacks, EFTPOS compromises, privacy violations, and cyber extortion incidents. Gaming systems, member databases, EFTPOS terminals, and online booking platforms all represent entry points for cyber incidents. For clubs with significant gaming operations, a system outage or ransomware attack can halt revenue-generating activity immediately. Cyber liability policies vary significantly in what they cover – some respond only to data breach, while others cover business interruption, extortion payments, and system restoration costs. We advise on appropriate cover given your specific technology exposure.

Protection against employee theft, till fraud, cash handling dishonesty, misappropriation of club funds, forgery, and fraudulent financial transactions. Cash-intensive businesses are statistically more exposed to internal theft and fraud than most other commercial operations. Clubs handling significant cash from gaming, bar operations, and membership fees are in this category. Crime insurance is often undervalued until an incident occurs. We review cash handling procedures and policy sub-limits as part of every program assessment for club clients.

Coverage for shopfront windows, decorative mirrors, glass partitions, display cases, and glass fixtures throughout your hospitality venue.

Cover for courtesy buses, delivery vehicles, club cars, and any vehicles used for member transport, catering deliveries, or club business.

Mandatory cover for kitchen staff, bar staff, cleaners, security personnel, and all employees across Queensland and Australia.

We learn about your operations, gaming revenue, food and beverage service, patron capacity, volunteer structure, and facility age. This helps us identify risks specific to your venue.

Our team conducts a thorough assessment of your current risks and risk transfer to insurance arrangements, identifying any gaps or areas where cover may not align with your current activities. You’ll receive a detailed gap analysis report to help you make informed decisions.

We provide clear recommendations on appropriate insurance options, explaining complex policy terms in straightforward language to help you make informed decisions.

Through our relationships with Australian insurers experienced in clubs and hospitality sector risks, we help you access competitive insurance solutions suited to your venue’s needs and budget.