The Government of New South Wales (NSW) has faced accusations of surrendering to increasing pressure from gambling industry lobbyists after issuing a confirmation that the planned expanded cashless gaming trial was postponed.
As previously reported by Casino Guardian, the Labour Government has promised to begin a cashless gambling trial on a total of 500 pokies in local clubs and pubs as of July 1st. However, the gambling minister David Harris revealed that the establishment of the panel responsible to oversee the process has been delayed. As shared by Mr Harris, the Labour Government was still committed to the prevention of money laundering and tackling gambling-related harm.
The gambling minister revealed that he had held consultations with various shareholders regarding the panel including representatives of the gambling industry, gambling harm minimisation groups, and members of parliament. David Harris confirmed that the Labour Government was in the final stages of establishing the planned independent panel and finally starting the poker machine trial and promised to provide further details on the matter in the next few weeks.
The independent panel is set to include industry members and law enforcement, along with health and gambling market experts and scientists. All of them will be required to report the results of the trial after a year.
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Cate Faehrmann, the gambling spokesperson of the state Greens, commented on the delay, saying that the announcement demonstrated how strong of an influence the gambling industry lobby had in the Parliament. According to Ms Faehrmann, the gambling industry has once again interfered in the lawmakers’ work, which resulted in the announced delay of the planned cashless gaming trial.
She further noted that such a move did not actually give people much confidence in the cashless card trial planned by the Government in case lawmakers were even unable to establish a panel to oversee the implementation of the measures.
The gaming spokesperson of the opposition – Kevin Anderson – also criticised the Government for the recently announced delay, saying that it needed to provide a new timeline for the implementation of the planned cashless trial. Mr Anderson also believes that the lawmakers have to provide more details about their decision to postpone the process.
One of the most avid supporters of the proposed gambling reform in the state parliament – Alex Greenwich, an independent Member of Parliament – welcomed the delay in case it guarantees that the trial is done right. According to Mr Greenwich, the authorities do not have to rush things because the result of the trial is much more important than the starting date of the process.
Furthermore, he noted representatives of gambling companies had to be involved in the reform process in order for the Government to guarantee a smooth transition from regular to cashless gambling payment, because the sector had to understand the need for such a reform in the first place.
- Author
Daniel Williams
