However, that plan met fierce opposition from the industry and Coalition colleagues, including then-deputy premier John Barilaro who insisted the Nationals would never support it. The first iteration of a statewide cashless gaming scheme was proposed by Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello last year. The probe recently called for submissions about gaps in current laws, including the state’s machine credit limits of $5000 to $10,000, which are up to 100 times higher than other states.Ĭredit limits in clubs and pubs in Victoria and the NT are $1000, while in Queensland and South Australia the upper limit is only $100. It comes amid an ongoing royal commission-style inquiry by the NSW Crime Commission into the rampant criminal use of gaming venues to wash dirty funds. “The trials will explore different technologies and solutions with the common goal of addressing harm minimisation and anti-money laundering,” he said.Īnti-gambling advocates have welcomed the delayed trial, but say it is a drop in the ocean of the state’s 95,000 electronic gaming machines abused by organised crime groups to “wash” thousands of dollars at a time. Hospitality and Racing Minister Kevin Anderson said the government had approved two additional gaming manufacturers – IGT and Utopia Gaming – to conduct cashless trials, while another two applications were under consideration.
