The end of casual punting: Huge push for pokie machines to be made cash-free – meaning gamblers will need to sign up for a government card
Going for a casual slap on the pokies down at the local pub or club could soon be a thing of the past in New South Wales if new legislation is passed by state parliament.
A new draft bill with cross-party support proposes that all slot machine players register for a government-issued card which they can pre-load with money.
The pokie card would work much the same way as an Opal card but would have a trigger in place to restrict problem gamblers.
Going for a casual slap on the pokies down at the local pub or club could soon be a thing of the past in NSW if new legislation is passed by state parliament (pictured, a woman plays a pokie machine)
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello tabled the proposal and has also suggested pubs and clubs adopt facial recognition technology to identify punters who are spending beyond their means.
Although the legislation is still in its early stages, both the Greens and One Nation have voiced their support for it.
'I'm a supporter of personal freedoms but not to the point where it hurts other people,' NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.
'Problem gambling hurts children, problem gambling hurts families, it hurts communities.
'It's part of the crime rate as addicts try to get extra money to fuel their habit.'
While Mr Latham is in favour of gaming reforms and has been a long-time advocate for the use of smart card technology in pokie rooms, he's not a supporter of the more controversial aspects of the bill.
One Nation leader Mark Latham is in support of registered gambling cards
'I don't support facial recognition technology. I think it is too Orwellian. I think it will scare people and it is unnecessary. You don't need facial features checked when you walk into a pub,' he said.
'But I think draft bill is a starting point.
'Society has a responsibility to try and help problem gamblers.'
Pokies in NSW rake in about $6billion a year and the industry employs over 100,000 workers.
But since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, gaming revenue has fallen 14 per cent year-on-year as a result of the 10-week industry shutdown, while food and beverage takings are down 60 to 70 per cent.
Clubs NSW CEO Josh Landis says the reforms go too far and would hurt the already suffering industry.
'I don't think anyone would agree that the middle of a pandemic is the right time to introduce onerous new compliance requirements.'
Mr Latham says no changes should be made until the pandemic is fully under control.
'Nothing should happen until COVID restrictions are fully lifted and trading has returned to normal,' he said.
'We don't want to create a different kind of problem.
'So you have a lot of time to get things right.'
Pokies in NSW rake in about $6billion dollars a year and the industry employs over 100,000 workers