NSW Labor plans to reduce the number of poker machines and implement a mandatory cashless gaming trial in response to the incumbent government’s proposed reforms.
Gambling in pubs and clubs has become a significant topic in the upcoming election.
On Monday, Chris Minns, the leader of the opposition, announced that if Labor wins the upcoming March election, they will launch a mandatory cashless gaming trial for a minimum of 500 poker machines. However, prominent politicians not aligned with the major parties and advocates for gambling reform have criticized the policy as insufficient. This is because the trial would involve less than 1% of the state’s 90,000 poker machines.
Minns also stated that a Labor government would prohibit political contributions from clubs that have poker machines, lower the maximum cash deposit limit on new machines from $5,000 to $500, and prohibit advertising for pokie machines outside all venues, including VIP Room signs.
If it wins the election Labor plans to decrease the number of poker machines by implementing a stricter forfeiture rate for clubs and pubs, and gradually lowering the overall state-wide limit for the number of pokie machines each year.
Minns added said that under the current system, if a venue wants to add more pokie machines, they must trade with other establishments and, in addition, relinquish one machine for every three they acquire.
Under the proposed new plan by Labor, the forfeiture rate would be increased to one poker machine for every two machines purchased, resulting in a faster removal of machines from venues in NSW each year.
The Labor Party’s proposed gambling reforms follows a recent announcement by state Premier Dominic Perrottet that pokie machines would have daily limits imposed on them in the coming months.
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