Cashless gaming a key NSW election issue

The package aims to tackle problem gambling and money laundering, with all NSW poker machines to be cashless by 2028.

‘This is significant,’ NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said, unveiling the $340m plan to overhaul the gambling industry. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet’s re-election bid has been boosted after a second independent MP declared his support in the case of a hung parliament would be contingent upon a commitment for mandatory cashless gaming across the state.

The comments from Lake Macquarie independent Greg Piper on Monday came shortly after Mr Perrottet announced a $344m gambling reform package, saying he would turn the more than 86,000 poker machines in NSW cashless by 2029.

Flanked by NSW Crime ­Commissioner Michael Barnes, Mr Perrottet said all eight of the commission’s recommendations from its report into money laundering would be adopted, declaring the measures to be “the largest social, community and law enforcement reform in our state’s history”.

“It fixes the problem gambling, it fixes money laundering. At the same time it protects jobs and supports our pubs and clubs across our state,” he said.

Mr Perrottet said his government would buy back 2000 poker machines from venues over the next five years (a policy Labor immediately announced it would match), while implementing a raft of harm minimisation measures to mitigate the scourge of problem gambling.

A cap on daily gambling expenditure would not be imposed, however.

Mr Perrottet said the ability for gamblers to self-regulate was the “most important” element of reform being called for by harm-minimisation experts.

The announcement was welcomed by members of the crossbench, with Sydney MP Alex Greenwich reaffirming that his support if neither party could form a majority following the March 25 poll would be contingent upon a commitment to implement cashless gaming.

Mr Piper agreed, saying gambling reform was one of the “big bowl issues of our time”, and his support would “absolutely” be contingent on cashless gaming.

“It’s probably one of the biggest cultural changes in NSW ever, and if we baulk at this … we really shouldn’t be here. This is a time for change,” Mr Piper said.

“And I’m sure that Alex and I, along with the other crossbench members, will be standing shoulder to shoulder on that.”

Along with a suite of measures, Labor leader Chris Minns has committed to a year-long trial of cashless gaming across 500 poker machines statewide, saying he would adopt mandatory cashless cards if the trial was successful.

But his reticence to commit immediately has faced criticism from the crossbench, with Mr Greenwich previously saying the announcement risked delaying essential reform to address problem gambling.

Pittwater teal independent candidate Jacqui Scruby said if elected, one of the “most important factors” influencing her vote in the case of a hung parliament would be pokie policies.

Neither party’s platform was perfect, she said, criticising the Coalition’s plan as being “far from comprehensive”.

Ms Scruby called on Labor to “come to the party” on mandatory cashless gaming.