The cashless gaming trial is one of the top priorities in the following period when it comes to the New South Wales gambling industry, as the New South Wales Independent Panel on Gaming Reform claims.

Next steps in the trial:

The next step in the trial is confirming the design and regulatory settings which will allow its launch. 

On Monday, the first meeting of an independent panel was held, and one of the main topics was the trial, which was scheduled to start on July 1. However, it was delayed, and it is supposed to begin as soon as possible. Some cashless trials have already begun, but on the state level, there are more areas that need to be covered. 

Some of the largest operators in the state, such as The Star, will be among the main parts of the trial. In October, The Star is entering the trial with 50 cashless machines. 

In total, about 500 cashless machines will be included in the trial. 

David Harris, the NSW’s Minister for Gaming and Racing, is invested in this trial and often comments on recent events. He said that the panel needed to decide which venues were suitable for the trial, with the goal of establishing the right mix of clubs and hotels, combining the urban and rural areas. He added that it’s needed to ensure “the trial will have strong data security and privacy protections in place.”

New regulations and measures:

In NSW, the authorities are concerned about a range of gambling harm and criminal activities that started to occur in the state and started to work on various measures to minimize them, such as limiting cash input on machines, banning political donations from clubs that possess the pokies, as well as lowering the cap in the machines.

The state introduced new regulations, including the ban on external signage for all gaming rooms in the state, which should begin on September 1. The forbidden words are “Vip Room,” “Golden Lounge,” and “Player’s Room,” as well as many others. Dragons, coins, and lightning also can’t be displayed in the images. The ones who don’t comply with the new regulations will be obligated to pay a fine of up to AU$ 11.000 (US$7.100) for each violation. 

When the trial is finished, the independent panel plans to analyze the data they got from it, and according to that, they will “develop recommendations for Government, taking into consideration infrastructure investments required, impact on employment and industry, options to further reduce gambling harm and the impact on reducing the risk of money laundering,” according to the source.

The panel will conduct many changes prior to the gaming reform expected by November 2024, along with advising the state government about the best solutions.

The inaugural meeting of the panel was about “harm minimization protections, anti-money laundering protections, data security and privacy protections, and requirements to enable venues to participate in trials,” and the second one should be held in September, with a highlight on objectives, design, and framework of the cashless trial.