Concerns for casual pokie players in cashless gaming card push
Police Minister David Elliott is among senior figures in the government pushing back against a plan for a cashless gaming card to help combat money laundering.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Senior ministers have reiterated their concerns over a proposed cashless gaming card that would be regulated by the government, warning it would unnecessarily punish casual poker machine players.
It comes despite the measure still being considered as a way to prevent money laundering in pubs and clubs.
An industry-led trial is due to start at Wests Newcastle in February but ministers have said that they don’t want law-abiding punters to face unnecessary regulations.
It’s understood Police Minister David Elliott has told the industry he doesn’t want “old ladies who put $20 in the pokies after bingo forced to have one” as it is an “unnecessary intrusion on their privacy”.
It comes after Liquor and Gaming NSW said that it had referred to NSW Police $6.5 million worth of “suspicious transactions” in 194 pubs and clubs since the lockdown was lifted on October 11.
Senior Minister Anthony Roberts has also shared that sentiment, calling for a more targeted solution.
It’s understood the government plans to push ahead with implementing a cashless gaming card if the trials set to begin in February are successful.
Victor Dominello’s proposals for a government-regulated cashless gaming card sparked a civil war in cabinet earlier this year, with then-Deputy Premier John Barilaro aggressively opposing the move.
Mr Barilaro accused Mr Dominello of failing to work with stakeholders.
Despite the imminent trials, it’s understood Mr Dominello has not brought a proposal back to cabinet to mandate a cashless card for people to play the pokies.
Authorities have evidence of tens of millions of dollars being laundered by organised crime through poker machines at specific clubs across Sydney, senior sources told The Daily Telegraph on Monday.
It’s understood Mr Elliott wants to crack down on money laundering in clubs while ensuring smaller venues are not punished. Amid growing evidence of pokies being used by organised crime, senior ministers would be open to an inquiry to determine the extent of the problem – something which was out of the scope of Patricia Bergin’s powerful inquiry into casinos and Crown Resorts, finalised this year.
Senior ministers have backed a proposal from Clubs NSW, revealed in The Daily Telegraph on Monday, for venues to have extra powers to crack down on suspected money laundering.
However there is a view the proposals don’t go far enough and would simply lead to organised crime groups going elsewhere to wash their cash.
A spokesman for Liquor & Gaming NSW said clubs were already “permitted to remove or ban people suspected of engaging in money laundering on their premises”.
“While a club may be challenged for restricting a person before an allegation is proven, Liquor & Gaming NSW would support any reasonable proposal from Clubs NSW to ban patrons suspected of criminal misconduct,” the spokesman said.
Jewish community hosts vigil to remember terror victims
An early morning vigil has been held at Bondi Beach on the anniversary of October 7 Hamas Terror attack in Israel. Members of the Jewish community, dignitaries, MPs and survivors were in attendance.
Fears October 7 anniversary could ignite unrest in Sydney
Fears of unrest in Sydney consume the first anniversary of Hamas’ terror attack, after pro-Palestinian protesters swarmed the CBD on Sunday, taking aim at state and federal politicians.