Greens urge Minns to stand up to gambling industry’s predictable outrage over proposed new gaming reforms
The Greens are calling on the Minns Government to ignore the pushback from the gambling industry and commit to a mandatory statewide accounts-based system linked to a person’s identity, which is the key recommendation from the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform’s Roadmap released today.
“With the panel’s work complete we now need to see a commitment by the Premier to the key recommendation for reform - a mandatory statewide gambling card linked to a player’s identity,” said Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and gambling harm reduction spokesperson.
“There really should be no excuse anymore for someone to be able to pour money into a poker machine anonymously. While the Greens support a completely cashless card system, even something more along the lines of what the Panel is recommending will be a major step forward in the campaign to reduce the harm from gambling.
“The panel’s support for a continued role for cash because of patrons’ concerns about banking institutions having visibility of their gaming activities is a copout, so too being able to opt-out of spending and time limits.
“The report is very clear that voluntary schemes don’t work because, unsurprisingly, most patrons would prefer not to have their activity tracked if there’s an alternative. That’s why a mandatory scheme with play limits is needed.
“The results of the trials overseen by the Independent Panel confirm they were set up to fail. The fact that only 14 ‘genuine and active’ users had participated in the trial and used the technology for at least two or more days should not be used by the industry as the reason to give up.
“The feedback provided on the report’s recommendations by members of the Independent Panel, including industry is telling.
“The Australian Hotels Association has shown its cards by stating that it doesn’t support any changes to the Gaming Act which would see NSW adopt a public health approach to gambling. This is quite extraordinary.
“Instead of coming to the table to work out how to reduce the harm caused by gambling, pubs and clubs are now trying to discredit the report entirely. This is typical of the gambling industry’s approach which has been to attack anyone who dares attempt to reform the industry to reduce harm.
“It’s disappointing that the panel is stating that further work needs to be undertaken by the Government in developing its preferred approach.
“Crown has successfully introduced mandatory account-based gaming, Melbourne is moving from voluntary to mandatory account-based gambling next year. Call it what you will, but all the experts agree it’s the right next step - so let’s just get on with it,” said Cate Faehrmann.