VICTORIA GAMING COULD GO CASHLESS

The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) is considering introducing a TITO system (ticket in, ticket out) and card-based cashless (CBC) gaming in Victorian clubs and hotels. They have issued a notice calling for public feedback on the draft documents.

Closing date for comment on the introduction of a TITO system is 1 September 2017.

A spokesperson for Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Marlene Kairouz said that gaming operators had shown interest in the cashless ticketing system.

“Cashless gaming has operated at Crown Casino for several years and we understand some pubs and clubs are interested in introducing this technology at their venues,” he said. “We’re currently considering appropriate harm minimisation measures for cashless gaming as part of our broader review of gaming machine relations in Victoria.”

Last week the Victorian government announced that gambling venues that earned the most from pokies would be forced to pay more tax under a new pricing system which it said: “would increases taxes for pubs, clubs and hotels with high-earning gaming machines.”

The government statement came under the headline “A Fairer Pricing System for Gaming Machines in Victoria.”

Ms Kairouz said the new arrangements would come into effect when the current gaming machine licenses expired in August 2022 – providing pubs, clubs and hotels the certainty needed to plan for the future.

“From August 22, the price for gaming machine entitlements will be calculated using a formula based on a weighted average of a venue’s gaming machine revenue over the past four financial years, with minimum price applying to club and hotel entitlements,” Kairouz said.

Sources: heraldsun.com.au/probonoaustralia.com.au/pokiesgame.com.au