ACT moves to bring in cashless gaming, reduce pokie numbers in gambling law changes
The ACT government is introducing major gambling reforms including mandatory cashless gaming, reduced poker machine numbers, and shorter operating hours to reduce harm.Summary
The ACT government is introducing what it describes as "the single largest package of reform in Australia" to reduce harm from poker machines. The changes include mandatory account-based cashless gaming across all venues, bans on EFTPOS and ATM withdrawals for pokies, and a 15-hour weekly reduction in gaming machine operating hours. Players will need a venue account and a player account card with a maximum loss limit, and clubs must enforce a 15-minute break after every hour of continuous play. The government will not introduce a central monitoring system, with Minister for Gaming Reform Marisa Paterson citing cost and the ACT's smaller number of machines. To reduce pokie numbers, a schedule will cut machines to 1,000 by 2045, with a mandated reduction of 500 machines every four years. The existing self-exclusion scheme will be overhauled into a centrally managed system with simpler online application. Mandatory bet limits and enforced exclusion from gaming areas are not being considered due to technological limitations. The ACT Greens criticised the proposal as weaker than promised, while the Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance welcomed the broad scope but noted venue-based limitations. The opposition and Clubs ACT raised concerns about revenue loss and club closures. A transition committee will help clubs find alternative income sources. The changes will be introduced to the Legislative Assembly this week, with some measures effective soon: the EFTPOS withdrawal ban in October and reduced operating hours on July 1, 2027.
(Source：Abc)