GTA LEADS AUSTRALIA’S FIRST STATEWIDE CASHLESS GAMING TRIAL
Four Gaming Technologies Association (GTA) members have been selected in an expanded New South Wales cashless gaming trial involving nearly 4,500 electronic machines across the State.
The conditional approvals are a crucial step in the NSW Independent Panel on Gaming Reform process as the Government investigates available technology, its reliability and its future sustainability.
An Expression of Interest process was held earlier this year where expectations were exceeded by the number of providers and venues volunteering to be part of the cashless gaming trial.
The four GTA members conditionally approved to spearhead the trial next year are:
- Aristocrat
- eBet
- IGT
- Light & Wonder
GTA members have been at the forefront and commenced NSW cashless gaming trials via Liquor and Gaming NSW’s regulatory framework, prior to participating in the panel’s process.
Approvals have now been granted on the condition that stringent cybersecurity requirements are met. The trial will facilitate further testing of the technology with users in different venue types.
NSW’s Panel has conditionally approved 28 venues for the trial, including 20 clubs and eight hotels. There is a mix of large clubs with over 300 machines through to smaller regional clubs and pubs. The testing will also measure any impacts on employees, the infrastructure and technology costs.
The NSW Independent Panel on Gaming Reform is continuing to work collaboratively as all members would like to see cashless technology established to ensure sustainable harm mitigation measures.
Jinesh Patel, CEO of GTA, explained that “the focus for GTA is to ensure a fair and balanced path for gaming technology in Australia. The trial is complex and costly, but we are committed to finding a path forward and working with the NSW Government. GTA is proud to contribute to the NSW Panel and its members are committed to seeing Australia’s first statewide trial succeed.”
EBET GREENLIGHTED AS PART OF 2024 CASHLESS GAMING TRIAL
The Independent Panel on Gaming Reform conditionally approved ebet systems as one of the four technology providers for the cashless gaming trials, due to be rolled out in the first quarter of 2024.
Subject to final approval, the trial will comprise of technology being installed in over 4,500 electronic gaming machines across 28 venues, located across 23 local government areas.
Ebet will work with eight venues and more than 1,200 gaming machines, accounting for 27% of the total trial. The trial will focus on the feasibility and acceptance of cashless gaming technologies and the Panel will report to Government in November 2024.
