The NSW Government has announced that it has reduced the number of pokie machines that can be operated by more than 3,000 in its bid to reduce the harms of problem gambling.
According to current regulations, pubs and clubs in New South Wales have gaming machines entitlements that allow them to operate gaming machines (pokies) and trade those entitlements between venues. However, the government’s new rules will limit the number of gaming machine entitlements to only those that are currently in circulation. While the announcement lists a reduction of 3,000, it fails to mention the number of entitlements that will be operational once the new rules come into force.
New cash input limit
In addition to the reduction of entitlements, the government has also approved a cash input limit of AU$500 for all new pokie machines that are installed at pubs, clubs, and hotels. This is a significant reduction on the current limit of AU$5,000 which is the highest in Australia.
The new limits will come into force from July 1st 2023, but they will not be applied to machines that are currently in use.
Speaking of the new limits, Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:
“We promised the people of NSW that we’d reform the gaming sector in a way that reduced gambling harm while future-proofing the industry. One of these commitments was to reduce the number of poker machines in this state – and this is an important step forward.
Further down the track, we’ll also be changing the GME forfeiture scheme so that for every two entitlements traded, one will be forfeited – which will see numbers drop at a faster rate.
It’s important that as we navigate through these changes, we engage with industry so that we can ensure vibrancy of our hospitality and gaming industries.”
The press release also notes that a cashless gaming trial for 500 pokie machines is still planned for New South Wales. This is despite the news that a pre-trial of the program was subject to a cyber attack just last week.
Ciaran has been working within the Gambling Industry as a deep analyst since 2019. His deep knowledge and understanding of all the gambling regulations, and processes makes him a true asset, and an always valuable point of view for Gambling Industry News, allowing us to cover every topics from a brand new perspective.