According to reports in Australia, there are only 32 active participants in the New South Wales’ (NSW) cashless gaming trial, despite 207 initially signing up.
The cashless trials were introduced as a means to reduce gambling harm while also as a response to money laundering, with a report by the NSW Crime Commission finding that poker machines in the state’s pubs and clubs were being used to wash through billions of dollars of dirty cash.
Providers, such as Light & Wonder and IGT had initially taken part in the trials, before the regulator opened up invitations to apply to participate in the trial.
Further to the decrease in active participants, reports also say just 14 venues remained in the trial, which is nearly half of the original figure of 27.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said: "Chris Minns and his Labor government have completely bungled their cashless gaming trial, turning it into a disgraceful circus.
"With just 32 users and an outrageous $634,000 already blown — that's an eye-watering $20,000 per person — Minns is proving again he's all talk, no action and completely out of his depth.
"This isn't just incompetence, it's a slap in the face to every family suffering from gambling harm."
In other news from the region this week, Grattan Institute, an Australian public policy think tank, has released a report related to how Australia can prevent gambling harm, calling for loss limits and an ad ban.
