The cards would need to be compliant with AUSTRAC’s money laundering requirements and capable of recording a patron’s buy-in and buy-out times,and amounts,turnover and wins and losses.
Her move follows the surprise announcement by the Victorian government on Sunday ofnew measures to combat gambling harms and money laundering,including a mandatory pre-commitment system that would force gamblers to sign in with a card and set their own loss limits in advance of play.
“Why is it safer for Victorians than the citizens of NSW?” Dalton said. “We can’t wait. The research is in. We know this is an addictive and deadly product. We have to start treating it that way.”
The NSW Crime Commission recommended last year that all poker machines in hotels and clubs be required to go cashless,after finding they were used for billions of dollars in dirty cash. The then premier Dominic Perrottet promised to implement the reform,before losing to Labor at the March election.
Labor committed to a 12-month trial of cashless technology at different venues,overseen by a panel of experts including harm minimisation advocates,law enforcement bodies,academics and industry representatives. It will report back in November next year.
For Dalton’s bill to be passed into law,it would need the support of the Liberal/National coalition and the crossbench. Among the nine independent MPs,Judy Hannan,Gareth Ward and Michael Regan said they would be inclined to support the bill,while Roy Butler said he would not. Alex Greenwich and Phil Donato could not be reached.