The trade body representing the gambling industry in New South Wales (NSW) – ClubsNSW – has criticised the calls for the implementation of cashless gambling cards across the state’s clubs and pubs, claiming that such a measure would be more of a punishment for punters.
As Casino Guardian already reported, the proposal is being supported by the NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, who has promised to crack down on money laundering in the state’s gambling industry, saying that he was willing to work in collaboration with industry representatives rather than forcing them to introduce controversial cashless gaming cards. According to Mr Perrottet, the sector needs urgent action, and the implementation of the cashless system would be the best that could be done.
Despite the Premier’s support for the measure, Josh Landis, the chief executive officer of ClubsNSW, criticised the proposal, describing it as a shortsighted measure that would not fight the actual cause of criminal enterprises.
Mr Landis explained that criminals are often spending the proceeds of their crimes on local poker machines but also on other products that could vary from jewellery, clothing and luxurious accessories, tattoos, groceries, food, etc. but not much is done against grocery chains and other retailers that eventually become the recipients of the proceeds of crime. According to him, the cashless card measure that has been proposed by the NSW Crime Commission would only address crime proceeds used to fund pokie machine gambling but would do absolutely nothing to resolve the broader problem.
NSW Clubs and Pubs Trade Body Concerned that Punters Will Feel Like Criminals Due to the Proposed Measure
The motion seeking the implementation of a cashless card comes after the Crime Commission of New South Wales found that some dirty cash worth billions of dollars had been washed through clubs’ and pubs’ pokies every year. According to the regulatory body’s report, a significant part of the overall AU$95 billion spent by local people and visitors on the state’s poker machines annually was the proceeds of criminal activity.
Reportedly, some punters were using controversial pokie machines across local casinos, pubs and clubs, but many criminals were spending money generated through criminal activity on gambling. What is worse, some venues were not even making an effort to stop it from happening, a recent report says. The report further claims that money laundering is hard to be eradicated from the sector because cash continues to be the primary payment method and a preferred method by which criminals become even wealthier.
According to Premier Perrottet, the implementation of cashless gaming cards would tackle both criminal activity and gambling-related harm to the most vulnerable gamblers in New South Wales. He was willing to put an end to money laundering that has been lately occurring in pokies and make sure that problem gamblers would not be able to spend all money they have on poker machines.
Previously, Mr Perrottet noted that he would insist on the implementation of a cashless system, despite the reluctance of his Nationals counterpart.
- Author
Daniel Williams
