Cashless gaming trial finalises recommendations to NSW government

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The cashless gaming trial has recommended the NSW government implement a mandatory statewide account-based gaming system by 2028. The $3.4 million trial only had 14 "genuine and active" participants, which has been criticised as "embarrassing and not credible". The government will consider the 30 recommendations in the report.

Transcript

00:00Washing machines for dirty cash. The NSW Crime Commission found much of the money fed through

00:07poker machines was the proceeds of crime. But now an independent panel has concluded

00:12the use of cash in gaming should not be banned outright.

00:16This is to bring people along. There was a lot of adverse commentary about having a cashless

00:24system.

00:26The panel has recommended that the continued use of cash be permitted as part of a mandatory

00:30state-wide account-based gaming system that requires all players to be identified.

00:36Hunters would still be allowed to play with a limited amount of cash each day.

00:40Cash should not be in the system at all. The fact that even after this they're saying there'll

00:45still be an option is a fail.

00:48Cash can have a place and it's really important that whatever system that we put in place

00:53is easy for people to use.

00:55The trial that led to the recommendations had just 14 genuine active users and feedback

01:00on the technology was collected from two users only.

01:03Certainly the take-up rates were very disappointing.

01:06The Australian Hotels Association, which sat on the panel, called the research embarrassing

01:11and not credible.

01:12The fact that we've had a low take-up suggests that it will only work if we make it universal

01:19and mandatory.

01:20The government has yet to announce its position, saying it's taking its time to work through

01:24the panel's 30 recommendations.

01:26The proposed account-based gaming system would be voluntary until 2028, the year after the

01:32next election.

01:33It's not good enough to say that this report will be considered in due course.

01:37This is a crisis in New South Wales.

01:40With the Coalition remaining committed to a fully cashless system, Labor may be faced

01:44with a political gamble.

01:54For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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