The state of New South Wales (NSW) moves toward the adoption of new voluntary gambling cards, although experts have called for the implementation of a mandatory measure.
According to most recent reports, a greatly expanded voluntary trial of controversial gambling cards is likely to be the way the state Government responds to the findings of the NSW Crime Commission that recommended the implementation of a mandatory scheme as the most attractive measure aimed at combating crime penetration and money laundering in local clubs and pubs.
On the other hand, anti-gambling campaigners have also warned that a mandatory measure would have the best results, as pressure builds on the major political parties to limit their links to a powerful clubs and pubs lobby ahead of the March 2023 election.
After facing some criticism from anti-gambling advocates and a few cross-bench MPs such as Alex Greenwich, Chris Minns, the leader of the opposition, shared that the Labour Party would back a trial of the cashless gambling card. His comments on the matter came after a week ago Premier Dominic Perrottet revealed he was willing to introduce the cashless gambling card after billions of dollars in dirty money were found to have been gambled in the state’s clubs and pubs on an annual basis.
Mr Minns noted that the Labour will support an expansion of the existing trial that is already taking place at a single Newcastle-based venue, as the scale of the trial was not large enough to provide an evidence base to make a change. According to the opposition leader, the NSW Legislature needed a broader evidence base in order to initiate further changes and reforms in the sector, to understand what the circumstances and effects of such chances would be, to measure the potential impact on local pubs and clubs, and to predict whether the scheme would eventually work.
Implementation of Mandatory Cashless Gambling Card Recommended by Anti-Gambling Campaigners and Crime Commission Experts
While the NSW Government needs to announce its formal position on the matter, a significantly expanded trial, based either on the overall number of pokie machines or the number of venues, will likely emerge as the outcome of the local Legislature efforts.
In any case, there are enough indicators that the trial of the cashless gambling card is likely to remain voluntary – something that has enraged anti-gambling advocates in the state of New South Wales.
The middle of the week saw the opposition leader indicate his preferences for a voluntary trial, explaining that he did not want the industry of local clubs and pubs, and the thousands of people employed there, to be financially affected by any expansion of the measure.
However, experts, including ones from the NSW Crime Commission, have questioned the effectiveness of a voluntary measure. In its recently released report, the Commission found that money laundering in the state will not be properly addressed by the implementation of a voluntary cashless gambling card because criminals involved in laundering dirty cash originating from criminal activity would simply start using cash.
According to the Crime Commission, the adoption of a voluntary or hybrid system would probably make NSW clubs and pubs more attractive venues for people involved in money laundering because such player card systems could be exploited. Experts have noted that mandatory or universal cards do not reinforce stigma on certain individuals because everyone is required to use them, which makes them a much more useful tool to prevent gambling-related harm caused by so-called pokies.
- Author
Daniel Williams
