Issue of cashless gambling in NSW heats up, one trial underway already
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There is a trial underway in NSW to introduce a cashless gambling system. The Crime Commission led the inquiry into money laundering in the state. It recommended a card to replace cash-fed gambling machines. Premier Perrottet said the implementation would take support from all sides. He said it was not a matter of if they do it, but how they did it. There is no commitment from Labor or National parties to support the idea.
Crime Commission is against a voluntary system with players choosing whether or not to use the cards. The Crime Commission believes it will not address money laundering. Chris Minns, leader of the Opposition Labor party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, said the technology could do more harm than good. Online gambling in Australia doubled last year according to an October 2021 report from Gambling Research Australia. Wesley Mission chief executive, Stu Cameron, separately said that the Victorian system failed precisely because it was voluntary. He added that there were “no reasonable excuses or reasons not-to- proceed” with the rollout of a mandatory system.
A limited trial of a voluntary cashless cards scheme was started at Wests Newcastle on October 8th. The trial is to run for 90 days. As many as 200 members are using digital technology. It can stymie money laundering and prevent gambling harm. The minister for hospitality and racing Kevin Anderson said the trial would test how the technology works in real-life conditions and reveal potential benefits for venues and patrons.
