by The premier of New South Wales and his deputy appear to disagree on the future of cashless playing cards, with Dominic Perrottet “definitely in favor” of the measure while Paul Toole insists “the technology is not there”.
But Toole’s claim, that he is also the state leader of the national party, was disproved by gambling policy expert Dr. Charles Livingstone, who pointed to plans in Sweden, Norway and Victoria, insisting they could be launched within two years with sufficient political will.
The Coalition this week shelved a bill that could have made cards mandatory under the amendments that had been proposed, shortly after the state criminal commission issued a report calling for their introduction to reduce money laundering and gambling. of the proceeds of crime in NSW pubs and clubs.
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Toole said Wednesday that the government would discuss the card with the industry, but had “read reports” suggesting that cashless gaming technology “didn’t exist yet.”
“It will be very difficult to introduce something if the technology is not available to actually introduce it right now,” Toole said.
“So we have to work with the industry to determine how these cashless playing cards will be introduced and what they will look like.”
Livingstone, an associate professor at Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said several versions of the scheme were already in use in Australia and elsewhere. He pointed to a volunteer program in Victoria, an upcoming launch in Tasmania and successful programs in Scandinavia.
“I don’t know who is feeding the deputy premier with these lines, but they’re actually not accurate,” Livingstone said.
Livingstone said a “network pre-engagement system”, which records people’s limits and gambling in all places and machines, would require systems to be upgraded.
“There are a number of older machines … and some of them may need a little more tweaking, but they all need to be connected to the monitoring system. [already]”He said.
“Probably three-quarters of them are able to pass data through a monitoring system tomorrow if needed.
“The only real problem is making sure the protocol is correct, making sure you have a vendor who can do it. If you gave them two years to do it, [it] they should all be launched by early 2025 “.
He noted that Tasmania has plans to make the entire system cashless by 2024.
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“The only resistance to this [in NSW]obviously, it will be the political pressure that ClubsNSW and the [Australian Hotels Association] it can lead to completion “.
Toole said the clubs were “very valuable” to regional NSW, noting how many were used as evacuation centers during floods and fires, as well as Covid vaccination centers.
National Congressman and Hospitality Minister Kevin Anderson is at the forefront of his opposition to making such a charter mandatory. Liberal Transport Minister David Elliott is also reportedly opposed.
Toole’s comments came the day after Perrottet insisted he hadn’t given up hope of addressing slot machine problems before the March election, saying he would work closely with clubs and pubs. “to make significant changes”.
“We can’t have a situation where people launder money or invest their life savings in poker machines,” he said.
Related: NSW Labor resists pressure to engage with cashless playing cards
“We’ve been talking about it for too long and it’s not about penalizing clubs or penalizing hotels – they have important roles in our community – but we have to take them on the road.”
Opposition leader Chris Minns also refused to support the introduction of mandatory cashless playing cards.
“Given the complexity, we need to make sure and look at what people are putting on the table before I give general support for a proposal I haven’t seen,” he said last week.
ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis said the group will work with the government “to implement practical, proportionate and cost-effective responses” to the report.
