Wests Group Newcastle in cashless gaming card trial after deal with Gaming Minister Victor Dominello
The controversial gaming card trial will be launched following a deal between a major NSW club and gaming minister Victor Dominello.
NSW
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A major NSW club has struck a deal with gaming minister Victor Dominello to trial cashless gaming cards.
In the first trial of its kind Wests Newcastle and Aristocrat Gaming have proposed a trial for identity-linked cashless payments for all club services including pokies.
This is despite opposition from industry to compulsory identity-linked gaming cards.
Tension between Mr Dominello and the industry body has been noticed by observers, with the minister not attending the ClubsNSW gala awards dinner last Thursday.
Instead, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro — who has opposed the cashless cards — attended the event, driving back to Sydney two nights before the Upper Hunter by-election for the gala.
But the move to trial the cashless technology with Wests Newcastle is a win for Mr Dominello, who has been pushing for the reforms as a means to stamp out criminal money laundering and to support problem gamblers.
The trial will take place at Wests’ New Lambton venue in Newcastle and will be assessed by an academic researcher and Liquor & Gaming NSW.
It will include responsible gambling measures such as money and session time limits, information and real-time messaging to customers.
A requirement of the trial will be that customers need to supply Proof of Identity Level 2 — equivalent to 100 points — and have their digital wallet linked to an Australian bank.
CEO of Wests Newcastle Phil Gardner said the trial was to improve the experience and “welfare” of members.
“At the core of our operation is a commitment to outstanding customer service (for members),” Mr Gardner said.
“This trial builds on our longstanding commitment to their welfare.”
Aristocrat expects installation and testing of the card system at the club in August, with the trial to commence in September. Mr Dominello said it was encouraging to see leaders in the industry step up and venues embrace the trial.
“I support this digital proposal as it is linked to identity, a bank account and with harm minimisation settings. This will help us combat the twin sins of money laundering and problem gambling, addressing the key concerns of the Bergin Inquiry,” Mr Dominello said.
CEO of Aristocrat Gaming Mitchell Bowen said the innovation of cashless payments “may help enhance the long-term sustainability and vibrancy of our industry.”
A ClubsNSW spokeswoman said: “(We) look forward to this trial … to demonstrate that multiple forms of digital payments for gaming machines can sit alongside cash”.
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Originally published as Wests Group Newcastle in cashless gaming card trial after deal with Gaming Minister Victor Dominello
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