The NSW Government has received the Roadmap for Gaming Reform Report from the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform.
The government thanks the Independent Panel for preparing the report and conducting the cashless gaming trial.
The Independent Panel brought together, for the first time, a mix of industry representatives, harm minimisation representatives, law enforcement authorities, academics, community organisations and a person with lived experience to work on this difficult issue in a coordinated way to make recommendations to government on gaming reform.
I thank the Independent Panel for informing the design of the trial and overseeing its rollout.
Specifically, the Independent Panel examined the feasibility and acceptance of implementing cashless gaming technologies in clubs and hotels in NSW to gain insights from the technology on reducing money laundering and gambling harm.
I am informed the diverse stakeholder group worked constructively throughout the panel process as they designed and guided the approach the panel would take.
Establishing the Independent Panel and undertaking a cashless gaming trial was a response to the NSW Crime Commission inquiry in 2022, which recommended the government introduce a cashless gaming system to minimise instances of money laundering via gaming machines in pubs and clubs.
The scope of gaming reform considered by the Independent Panel has never been done before.
The implementation of cashless gaming could drive improved outcomes in addressing money laundering and reducing gambling harm and could also have major impacts on the NSW hospitality industry.
It is important the next steps are undertaken in a thoroughly considered way to ensure an economically sustainable hospitality industry in NSW.
The government will now consider the three volume, 530-page roadmap report and its 30 recommendations, and will not be rushing its response.
The Minns Labor Government continues with its work to reduce money laundering and gambling harm in clubs and hotels and has delivered more in 20 months than the previous government did in 12 years.
The trial of cashless gaming trial is one part of a suite of reforms to tackle money laundering and reduce gambling harm introduced by the government since it was elected, including:
- reducing the statewide gaming machine entitlement cap in June 2023
- banning political donations from clubs with electronic gaming machines on 1 July 2023
- reducing the cash input limit on new gaming machines from $5,000 to $500 on 1 July 2023
- banning all external gambling signage in venues on 1 September 2023
- banning the placement of any signage or advertising relating to gaming machines either on, or visible from an ATM or EFTPOS terminal with cash withdrawal facilities and introduced Responsible Gambling Officers for venues with more than 20 machine entitlements, on 1 July 2024
- committing $100 million to harm minimisation – investing in research, treatment, services and reform.
The NSW Government also thanks the trial participants:
- the 14 licensed venues in metropolitan and regional locations across NSW that installed cashless gaming technology on 2,388 electronic gaming machines, more than four times the election commitment of 500 machines
- the three technology providers: eBet, IGT, Light and Wonder
- the patrons that signed up for the voluntary trial and those that participated in the research.
The government is now focusing on taking the time to consider the report and its recommendations and we will respond in due course.
