The major NSW election promise only 32 people are using

There are only 32 active users participating in the Minns government’s much-vaunted cashless gaming trial, with the minister blaming a suspicion of technology for the low uptake.

Gaming Minister David Harris divulged the figure during budget estimates on Friday, insisting the near $20,000 cost per user was providing “really useful information”. Just over half of the 27 venues that committed to the trial have withdrawn.

Premier Chris Minns committed to the cashless gaming trial on 500 machines as part of his election platform during a debate over the insidious social impact of pokies ahead of the 2023 poll. The 12-month trial will be overseen by a panel of 16 led by former NSW Liquor, Gaming and Racing commissioner Michael Foggo.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris says he’s not concerned about a cashless gambling trial only having 32 participants.Credit: Nikki Short

The commitment has faced problems since Labor was elected: the July 1 commencement date was delayed last year after consultation with stakeholders. Minns said the scheme would likely be expanded to more than 3000 machines.

Pressed on an update on the trial, Harris deferred to Hospitality and Racing deputy secretary Tarek Barakat who said of the 207 people who signed up to the scheme, there were 32 active users. So far, the cost for the independent research was $634,000, he said.

Despite the low uptake, Harris said he was not concerned, saying not many people were prone to be early adopters of technology because “you get burnt sometimes”.

“It gives us some really useful information. To be frank, this is going to be a huge behavioral change for people,” Harris told estimates.

“And the feedback I’ve been getting is that people don’t trust technology. They’re worried about their bank accounts, they’re worried about their personal details, they’re worried about all of those things.”

Harris said the trial now involved 2388 gaming machines across 14 venues. When asked how many people he would like to see sign up, he deferred the question to the independent panel.

Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the revelations were evidence the government had “completely bungled” the cashless gaming trial.

“With just 32 users and an outrageous $634,000 already blown – that’s an eye-watering $20,000 per person – Minns is proving again he’s all talk, no action, and completely out of his depth. This isn’t just incompetence, it’s a slap in the face to every family suffering from gambling harm,” he said.

“While Chris Minns fumbles around and wastes public money, lives are being destroyed, and the Labor government’s indifference is appalling.”

The trial has been criticised by sectors of the anti-gambling community for not going far enough, and Minns has resisted calls to place a spending limit on machines.

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