Dominic Perrottet reveals Australia’s biggest gambling reform

Strict new regulations around gambling will be rolled out in one state under the biggest reforms ever introduced in Australia.

Australia’s biggest gambling reforms are about to be implemented by one state in an attempt to stop criminal money laundering and help those struggling with addiction regulate their spending.

On Monday, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced new plans to make poker machines cashless by 2028.

Mr Perrottet told reporters that after “extensive” consultations with experts and those in the hospitality industry, the new changes would impose daily loss limits and ultimately put a stop to problem gambling.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Crime Commissioner Michael Barnes have announced the biggest gambling reform in the country. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Julian Andrews

What’s new in the plan?

The new plan will roll out cashless cards to gamblers, who will need to impose their own daily loss limit, which can only be changed after seven days.

The daily limit can be whatever the user sets it as but is in place to stop people spending more than originally planned when playing the pokies.

Gamblers will also only be able to use money from their own bank accounts, with money from credit cards no longer allowed.

Mr Perrottet said cashless gaming would be mandatory in all venues by December 31, 2028, and gamblers would need to have their details associated with an account to use poker machines.

“We will require that all new machines purchased will be cashless, with the rollout beginning early next year,” he said.

Dominic Perrottet has announced huge new plans for pokies. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“We will legislate the strictest privacy protections for player data, with no government or industry access to personalised player data other than for law enforcement purposes, with strict penalties for misuse.

“We will introduce an optional buyback scheme targeted to acquire 2000 machines from venues over the next five years and will ban political donations from pubs and clubs in NSW.”

The changes being implemented under a re-elected Liberal government will also allow spouses or children worried about a loved one’s gambling to be able to block their cards from use.

“I don’t think there’s a person in this state who doesn’t know someone who has been affected by problem gambling or someone whose family has broken down as a result,” Mr Perrottet said.

Where did the recommendations come from?

The new plans are a direct result of a report released by the NSW Crime Commission, which recommended many of the changes in an attempt to stop illegal money laundering.

Political donations from pubs and clubs will also be banned under the new rules.

Crime Commissioner Michael Barnes welcomed the changes, saying the new rules will make it “impossible for criminals to spend their money that way”.

“The comprehensive response of the government to the report today is welcomed by the Crime Commission and other law enforcement,” Mr Barnes said.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the government in implementation if that’s necessary.”

Pokies will need to be cashless by December 31, 2028.

Why isn’t there a cap on daily limits and why 2028?

The new plans haven’t come without controversy, with the Premier facing backlash from the media over long-term rollout dates and high daily limits.

“The time for trials is over; the time for delivery starts today,” he said.

“If this could be done overnight, I’d do it, but the advice after the consultation from tech experts in this space has said that it will take a five-year period for a full rollout.”

Mr Perrottet was asked what would stop a gambling addict from setting their daily loss limit as high as $15,000 – a question he could not clearly answer.

“The harm minimisation experts have told me the No.1 thing that you can do is to ensure that when a problem gambler goes into a pub or club, there is a limit that they have set, and they cannot change that for seven days,” he said.

“That is the advice that I’ve received and that is the advice the NSW government has implemented.

“It’s not for me as Premier to arbitrarily put in a cap – everyone’s personal circumstances are different.”

“This is a comprehensive package and people have different views on different aspects of that, but what I can say as Premier is we’ve consulted thoroughly.

“We have worked tirelessly to get this right. This package today protects jobs, protects the industry and does so in a way that stamps out money laundering in NSW in pubs and clubs and stops problem gambling.

“That’s what this reform package does today – leads the nation to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

What does the industry think?

In a statement released to NCA NewsWire, ClubsNSW said it was concerned about the costs arising from the mandatory cashless system.

“ClubsNSW is concerned about the significant costs and technical challenges associated with the Coalition’s proposal to implement a mandatory cashless gaming system,” a ClubsNSW spokesperson said.

“We’re particularly concerned about the implications for small, regional clubs and the impact this will have on jobs across the industry.

“ClubsNSW is committed to working with whomever wins the March election to combat problem gambling and keep criminals out of gaming venues.”

In January, the then ClubsNSW chief executive John Landis accused Mr Perrottet of having “very little understanding” of gambling reform.

Mr Landis told Nine Newspapers the Premier would struggle because he can’t “satisfy everybody.”

“I think it’s fair to say that the Premier has very little understanding of this issue and has acted from his conservative Catholic gut rather than based on evidence,” Mr Landis said.

Not long after his comment, and after many calls to resign from MPs, Mr Landis was sacked by ClubsNSW.