The major changes coming to pokies if Labor win the NSW election
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NSW Labor will run a 12-month trial of cashless playing cards and ban political donations from clubs should it win state elections in March.
Opposition leader Chris Minns announced the plans on Monday after weeks of back and forth with the government over how best to tackle the problem of slot machine gambling and money laundering.
Anti-slot machine campaigners have called for urgent gambling reform in New South Wales, as the state has the highest spending on gambling and the most number of poker machines in the country.
If Labor wins the next election, a 12-month trial of the cards will take place, starting in July 2023, in a limited number of places, with at least 500 machines in a mix of metropolitan and regional areas.
The cards place a limit on how much a player can spend, with the limit reportedly being between $1000 and $1500 per day.
NSW Labor leader Chris Minns (pictured) did not commit to a cashless play card, instead opting for a 12-month trial. He also announced a ban on political donations from clubs on Monday.
Anti-slot activists have called for urgent gambling reform to minimize the damage caused by gambling addiction and cripple the capacity of slot machines that criminals use to launder money (file image)
Minns has resisted NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet’s proposal to introduce cashless game cards, asking for more evidence of how the system would work.
He previously warned of the effect the compulsory cards could have on the livelihoods of the 127,000 people who work in pubs and clubs within the state.
The 12-month trial proposed by Mr. Minns would be overseen by an independent panel, including representatives from industry, law enforcement, health and gambling experts, and academics.
Minns said a $100 million fine paid by Star Casino would go towards reimbursing participating venues for lost revenue caused by the lawsuit.
If it wins the next election, Labor would also introduce $500 cash-in limits on all new slot machines from July 2023.
The cap would represent a tenfold reduction from the current $5,000 limit, and the party says it would also lower power limits on existing older machines where possible.
Instead, Perrottet has pushed for a playing card in an attempt to remove cash from poker machines.
Former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard supported Perrottet’s plan, saying it was “brave” to take on the gambling industry, but also “wise” because it was a measured approach rather than any kind of gambling ban.
However, Perrottet has faced criticism for providing few details on how or when he would present the card.
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) supported the introduction of the cashless card for poker machines if he is re-elected in March, but did not provide specific details.
If the system is implemented, NSW will be the second state behind Tasmania to introduce the card (file image)
If the system is implemented, NSW will be the second state after Tasmania to introduce the card, although its limit is much lower at $100 per day, $500 per week and $5,000 per year.
The purpose of the cards would be twofold: to minimize the damage done to the community through gambling addiction and also to cripple the capacity of slot machines that are used to launder illegal funds.
A 2022 NSW investigation dubbed the Islington Project led by the NSW Crime Commission alleged that “billions” in dirty money were laundered through poker machines in the state in the fiscal year. 2021.
In addition to a spending limit, the cards would be tied to a particular person, so anonymous gambling would no longer be an option.
Minns announced Monday that the party would ban donations from clubs if elected.
Mr Minns announced that NSW Labor will be refusing all donations from clubs in future, reducing a significant amount of revenue for the match.
“The ban on the Labor Party accepting donations from clubs with slot machines would take effect immediately and under a Labor government would become law,” he said on Monday.
A breakdown of club donations by abc revealed that between 2011 and 2021, NSW Labor received $418,520, NSW Liberals received $179,920 and Nationals received $33,490.
During that period, Clubs NSW donated $48,270 to Labor, $35,900 to Liberals and $22,590 to Nationals.