TAS PUTS CASHLESS ON HOLD PENDING NATIONAL CONSENSUS
Tasmania has shelved its proposed cashless gaming card for poker machine players unless a coordinated national strategy is adopted, Premier Jeremy Rockliff has confirmed.
Initially announced in 2022 as a major step towards reducing gambling harm, the card system would have set strict loss limits—$100 per day or $5,000 annually. Implementation was originally set for 2024 but later pushed to the end of 2025. Last November, the plan was paused indefinitely due to concerns over its complexity and financial burden.
With an upcoming state election, Premier Rockliff has now ruled out moving forward alone, stating that Tasmania will not proceed without support from other states and territories. He emphasised the need for a unified national framework and pointed to ongoing efforts like facial recognition and third-party exclusion programs as current harm minimisation tools.
Other jurisdictions are also taking cautious steps. Victoria has delayed its rollout, and New South Wales is still exploring implementation options. Rockliff said alignment between states is the most practical and effective path forward.
Labor leader Dean Winter echoed that sentiment, stating his party would also wait for broader national action rather than lead the way, while prioritising alternative technologies like facial recognition to address gambling harm.
