NSW Labor reveals gambling reform plans ahead of election

The Labor Party in New South Wales has revealed its plans for gambling reform in the state.

Opposition leader Chris Minns, the head of the party, has promised to make drastic changes to the gambling industry after the public accused Labor of being in the pockets of the industry due to its refusal to back Premier Dominic Perrottet’s push for cashless gaming. The announcement comes ahead of the impending state elections.

Prominent on the laundry list of Labor’s promises is the ban on “VIP Lounge” signage used by clubs and bars to covertly advertise pokies, limited cash input for pokies, and an expanded 500-machine trial for cashless gaming. If elected in March, the party promises to slash the current $5,000 credit limit on new poker machines to $500.

In addition to this, Labor plans to reduce the number of poker machines in the state by cutting the entitlement cap in line with the existing number of pokies. For instance, any pokies venue looking to increase its number of machines will have to get them from other venues, while for every three machines traded, one will be forfeited. This one-for-every-two method is expected to accelerate the removal of pokies from the system.

As for the expanded trial, ever since the premier announced the move to cashless gaming, Labor has been clamouring for a broader evidence base to determine its effects on the workers of the industry and how effective it will be to combat money laundering and problem gambling. According to the opposition’s plans, the trials will commence from July 1 and run for 12 months involving machines used in high-volume metro areas in the state.

READ: Pokies reform battle heating up in NSW

The party assured the people the trial will be overseen by experts from the gambling, law enforcement and health sectors. In addition, it will be funded by the $100 million fine paid by The Star Sydney casino in 2022, though the projected expense is not supposed to exceed $27 million. Labor promised to direct the remaining funds towards harm-reduction measures, including adding $10 million per year to the Responsible Gambling Fund.

“I said from the outset this is complicated policy area and we needed an evidenced based approach to make sure any measures we introduced would work and wouldn’t have any unintended consequences. We’ve worked with a range of stakeholders to get the balance right,” Minns said.

Labor has also pledged to ban political donations from the clubs sector if elected into office. He added that money received during the present campaign will, however, not be returned as it had “already been spent”.

“Labor is leading the way — from today Labor will not accept donations from clubs with gaming machines. The Liberals and Nationals should make the same commitment. And if we win — it’ll be law,” Minns said.

NSW Labor has also promised to post “responsible gaming officers” to venues with more than 20 poker machines while implementing third-party exclusion. Third-party exclusion can be done by family members and law enforcement officials.

There have been calls for Premier Perrottet to reveal the blueprint for his government’s cashless gaming policy. However, Perrottet says details of the plan are being finalised and will be out soon.

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