The Queensland government has introduced legislation that will require mandatory card play at casinos among other measures.
The Casino Control and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 has been introduced at parliament and will implement all recommendations put forth in the recent Review of the Queensland Operations of The Star Entertainment Group.
According to the text of the amendment, the legislation will see the following changes to how casino and gambling operators work in the state:
- Introduction of mandatory carded play in Queensland casinos
- Cashless gambling for gambling transactions over a prescribed amount
- Casinos to implement a pre-commitment system
- Casinos to enforce limits on spending and time spent gambling
- Mandatory carded play data to be recorded for research and regulatory supervision
- Update outdated “problem gambler” terminology to terms such as “person who experiences gambling related harm”
- New code of conduct for casino licensees
- Supervision levy to be paid by casino licensees
- Cost-recoverable periodic reviews of casino licenses
- Casinos must take steps to ensure that persons on interstate exclusion lists are prevented from gambling
In a statement published following the announcement of the new regulations, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said:
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring Queensland casinos operate under strict laws that prioritise integrity and gambling harm minimisation. This Bill will enable us to continue our work in implementing all 12 recommendations outlined in Mr Gotterson’s review.
The new laws will ensure organisations associated with Queensland casinos are subject to inquiries every five years. This will assist in determining the ongoing suitability of those organisations.
Casino executives will be required to undertake particular duties in relation to the operation of a casino, and there will be significant personal penalties for non-compliance. There will also be a supervision levy imposed on casino licensees so that the costs of regulating casinos will not be passed onto taxpayers.
These reforms will continue to modernise Queensland’s gambling and casino laws to ensure they remain effective now and into the future.”
Queensland Follows NSW and Victoria’s Lead
The new regulations follow similar moves by both New South Wales and Victoria in their bids to limit the harms of gambling and prevent the gambling industry being used to launder proceeds from criminal activity.
New South Wales introduced several measures in recent month including a cashless gambling at pokie venues, the banning of political party donations from gambling venues, and a reduction in the number of pokie machines in the state.
In Victoria, similar measures have been taken particularly at Crown Melbourne following an investigation into the operator’s business practices. Earlier in October, Victoria’s Hume City Council criticized the state government for allowing pokie operators to make use of a tax loophole. This is expected to result in further reforms in the state’s gambling laws.
According to the latest Global Gambling Statistics, Australians have the highest gambling losses per person in the world. Each year the average gambler loses approximately AU$1870 ($1200/€1118).
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.
