Trial for cashless gaming expands to 4,400 new machines at pubs and hotels
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The state of New South Wales is taking a significant step towards modernising its gaming industry with the expansion of its landmark cashless gaming machines.
The trial, which initially included 500 machines, has now been extended to include an additional 4,485 electronic gaming machines across the state.
The expansion included 20 clubs and eight hotels across 17 metropolitan Local Government Areas (LGAs) and seven regional areas, which were conditionally approved to participate but still subject to passing cybersecurity requirements.
This represents approximately 5 per cent of the state's 86,872 gaming machines.
The trial is set to commence in the first quarter of next year.
Among the new participants are some of the state's top-earning venues for gaming machine profit.
These include Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club (ranked 4th, with 450 machines), the Cabra-Vale Ex-Active Servicemen’s Club (ranked 5th, with 450 machines), and West HQ, formerly known as the Rooty Hill RSL Club (ranked 7th, with 705 machines) according to Liquor and Gaming data collected from clubs between December 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023.
The Mounties in Mount Prichard, the top-earning club in terms of net profit (with 615 machines), will also be part of the trial.
The cashless gaming trial has been well-received by the industry, according to Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris.
He stated: 'The strong interest in participating in the cashless gaming trial proves just how serious clubs and hotels are about working with the Government to reduce gambling harm and money laundering associated with electronic gaming machines.'
'The industry is clearly behind us as we undergo these landmark gaming reforms as part of our commitment to addressing money laundering and gambling harm in NSW.'
The trial's expansion is a significant step forward from the original 500-machine trial, which had been criticised by welfare groups as being too small.
The venues have been endorsed by the Independent Panel into Gaming Reform.
More than 250 machines have reportedly completed trials at Wests City in Newcastle and Club York in Sydney’s CBD.
Participation in the trial required hotels and clubs to meet minimum requirements such as data security and privacy protections, harm minimisation protections, and anti-money laundering protections.
The results of the trials will be used to develop future cashless gaming policies.
Michael Foggo, currently the Chair of the Independent Panel and former commissioner of the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming, and Racing, shared that the panel received a 'large number' of applications from venues who were interested in participating in the trial.
'This demonstrates the depth of genuine support this trial has in the industry and its commitment to addressing gambling harm and money laundering,' Mr Foggo said.
A ban on external signage advertising poker machines has been implemented from September 1.
Labor’s gambling reforms also lowered cash input limits on new poker machines to $500 from $5000. They have also banned political donations from clubs involved in gaming.
Below are the clubs and hotels that participated in the trial:
Trial for cashless gaming expands to 4,400 new machines at pubs and hotels
What are your thoughts on the cashless gaming trial? Do you think it will help to reduce problem gambling and money laundering? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The trial, which initially included 500 machines, has now been extended to include an additional 4,485 electronic gaming machines across the state.
The expansion included 20 clubs and eight hotels across 17 metropolitan Local Government Areas (LGAs) and seven regional areas, which were conditionally approved to participate but still subject to passing cybersecurity requirements.
This represents approximately 5 per cent of the state's 86,872 gaming machines.
NSW has launched 4,485 new electronic gaming machines across the state. Image source: Sky News Australia.
The trial is set to commence in the first quarter of next year.
Among the new participants are some of the state's top-earning venues for gaming machine profit.
These include Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club (ranked 4th, with 450 machines), the Cabra-Vale Ex-Active Servicemen’s Club (ranked 5th, with 450 machines), and West HQ, formerly known as the Rooty Hill RSL Club (ranked 7th, with 705 machines) according to Liquor and Gaming data collected from clubs between December 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023.
The Mounties in Mount Prichard, the top-earning club in terms of net profit (with 615 machines), will also be part of the trial.
The cashless gaming trial has been well-received by the industry, according to Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris.
He stated: 'The strong interest in participating in the cashless gaming trial proves just how serious clubs and hotels are about working with the Government to reduce gambling harm and money laundering associated with electronic gaming machines.'
'The industry is clearly behind us as we undergo these landmark gaming reforms as part of our commitment to addressing money laundering and gambling harm in NSW.'
The trial's expansion is a significant step forward from the original 500-machine trial, which had been criticised by welfare groups as being too small.
The venues have been endorsed by the Independent Panel into Gaming Reform.
More than 250 machines have reportedly completed trials at Wests City in Newcastle and Club York in Sydney’s CBD.
Participation in the trial required hotels and clubs to meet minimum requirements such as data security and privacy protections, harm minimisation protections, and anti-money laundering protections.
The results of the trials will be used to develop future cashless gaming policies.
Michael Foggo, currently the Chair of the Independent Panel and former commissioner of the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming, and Racing, shared that the panel received a 'large number' of applications from venues who were interested in participating in the trial.
'This demonstrates the depth of genuine support this trial has in the industry and its commitment to addressing gambling harm and money laundering,' Mr Foggo said.
A ban on external signage advertising poker machines has been implemented from September 1.
Labor’s gambling reforms also lowered cash input limits on new poker machines to $500 from $5000. They have also banned political donations from clubs involved in gaming.
Below are the clubs and hotels that participated in the trial:
Trial for cashless gaming expands to 4,400 new machines at pubs and hotels
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