The government of New South Wales is considering a complete ban on political contributions from establishments with pokie machines, in an effort to reduce the influence the gambling industry has on legislative matters.
From January 2011 to June 2021, clubs across NSW donated a combined AU$632,000 (€405,866) to the state’s three major political parties.
According to existing legislation, gambling companies are not allowed to make any donations to political parties. However, the same rulke does not extend to venues that have gambling machines installed.
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has proposed the new policy ahead of the upcoming March election where gambling regulation has become a major topic for debate.
In recent months he has advocated for the implementation of mandatory cashless gaming and spending caps to combat gambling harm and money laundering. This follows a report from the NSW Crime Commission revealed that billions of dollars in illicit funds are being channeled through the state’s pubs and clubs annually.
In response to the Premier’s latest gambling reform proposals, the opposing Labor Party has pledged to significantly reduce the number of poker machines in the state. However, it has not yet committed to mandatory cashless gaming. Instead, it prefers to conduct a trial at around 500 chosen locations for a period of 12 months before making a decision on this matter.
Olivia has worked as an editor and writer for major brands across multiple niches. She now focuses on the iGaming and sports betting industries.