NSW (March 27, 2024) — Patrons at the Twin Towns Services Club in Tweed Heads are now able to sign up to use cashless gaming technology as the state’s expanded trial begins.The Twin Towns Services Club will trial the technology on all of its 596 gaming machines and will be the largest trial site in regional NSW.
Patrons of Twin Towns Services Club can now also receive a demonstration on how to use the updated machines as technology provider ebet completes the final stages of testing at the site.
The expanded trial is being overseen by the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform which has approved 27 venues to take part, including 21 clubs and six hotels across 23 local government areas.
The trial will continue to roll out across NSW in a staged approach with more venues to switch on during April, including West HQ (Rooty Hill RSL Club), which will have 720 gaming machines in the trial.
Overall, the technology will be installed in over 4000 gaming machines across NSW, surpassing the NSW Government’s election commitment of 500 machines.
The panel is scheduled to report to the government in November 2024.
The NSW Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to gaming reform and has achieved more in the last 12 months than the Coalition managed in 12 years including:
- Reduced the cash input limit from $5000 to $500 for all new gaming machines.
- Reduced the state-wide cap on gaming machine entitlements by approximately 3000.
- Banned political donations from clubs involved in gaming.
- Established the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform to oversee a comprehensive trial of cashless gaming in NSW and provide a roadmap for further gaming reform.
- Banned external gaming-related signage, and internal gaming-related signage that can be seen from outside the venue.
- Introduced Responsible Gambling Officers into pubs and clubs with more than 20 poker machines from 1 July 2024.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:
“The NSW Government is committed to gambling reform that reduces harm and prevents money laundering in NSW.
“The start of the expanded cashless gaming trial signals a key step for these reforms. The panel has taken the time to ensure there is an appropriate mix of venues and technology providers, as well as necessary cybersecurity protections in place.
“It is great to have industry on board with these reforms and I look forward to the insights from this landmark trial and how we can continue to work together to reduce gambling harm.
“As well as the cashless gaming trial, the NSW Government has also sought the independent panel’s feedback on the implementation of key election commitments including a state-wide exclusion register, providing for third-party exclusions, and the use of facial recognition technology to enhance exclusion schemes.”
Independent Panel on Gaming Reform chair Michael Foggo said:
“The commencement of the cashless gaming trial at Twin Towns is an important step in the journey to understand and report on various technological solutions, including privacy and security, and their impact on venues and staff.
“Importantly it will also give insights into solutions to minimise harm caused through gaming and money laundering.”
Twin Towns Services Club Chief Executive Officer Rob Smith said:
“Twin Towns has been one of many clubs that has promoted having a cashless option for players for almost a decade.
“We view this technology as a natural progression of society’s move to use less cash in their daily lives and move to more digital payment platforms.
“In our highly regulated environment this is not as simple as ‘tap and go’ and needs to bring with it safeguards for players and the industry.
“Being part of that evolution, with our partners ebet, is ensuring that the solution we end up with meets everybody’s needs, with the players at the centre of that mission.”
ebet Chief Executive Officer Frank Makryllos said:
“ebet is pleased to be working alongside the NSW Government and local venues to trial our leading cashless gaming technology.
“As an Australian-owned and operated business, ebet is the trusted provider for more than 500 clubs and hotels, offering scalable, practical and industry-leading technology solutions that have been developed to support the NSW Government’s trial.
“We thank the NSW Government, the trial venues and importantly the patrons for working with us to build a stronger and more sustainable sector across the state.”
SOURCE: Released by: Minister for Gaming and Racing.
