Poker Machines

In reply to the Hon. C. BONAROS ().1 November 2022).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs has advised:

In December 2018, the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner (commissioner) became the sole regulator for all gambling industries following the abolition of the Independent Gambling Authority by the state government. Since then, the commissioner has overseen an extensive review of all gambling legislation, resulting in significant gambling reforms which took effect on 3 December 2020. These reforms provide increased protections for South Australians affected by gambling harm.

Furthermore, the Gaming Machines Gambling Code of Practice (the code) has also recently been reviewed and follows the introduction of new codes of practice for wagering and lottery providers. The code was varied by the commissioner on 31 July 2022 and includes an extensive number of changes, as previously advised the honourable member.

A number of regulatory based harm minimisation measures are already in place (some of which are unique to South Australia) to combat gambling harm. These specifically target gambling providers and includes:

facilitated self and third-party initiated barring from land-based and digital gaming platforms and the promotion of gambling help services

transactional limits on gaming machines fitted with banknote acceptors

automated risk monitoring of each session of play on a gaming machine

in an Australian-first, mandating the operation of facial recognition technology to enable gaming staff to identify persons who have undertaken to be self-barred from the gaming area of licensed premises

limiting access to cash from EFTPOS on licensed premises with gaming machines to $250 per card over a 24-hour period

extending the prohibition on television gambling advertising to 6am to 8.30am and 4pm to 7.30pm on any day, and

prohibition of gambling advertising at cinemas when films rated G, PG, M or MA (15+) are showing.

The state government is continuing to work with the commissioner, the Gambling Advisory Council, social welfare organisations and other stakeholders to help reduce the harm caused by gambling and provide support to problem gamblers.

I am pleased to advise that only last month, the Gambling Regulation Strategic Plan was released by the commissioner, which details a clear path over the next three years towards ensuring measures are in place to minimise the harmful impact of gambling in South Australia.

The Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund (GRF), which is funded from voluntary and prescribed contributions from government and industry and administered by the Office for Problem Gambling through the Department of Human Services, remains a core feature of the government's gambling harm prevention strategy.

The GRF provides vital funds to support gambling help services and targeted services across the state, including access to the 24hr Gambling Helpline, Gambling Help Online, face to face counselling and therapeutic services. Within these services exists a subset of assistance which targets at risk populations (i.e., culturally and linguistically diverse groups, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and individuals involved in the criminal justice system) and an intensive gambling help service.

The GRF has also funded a number of initiatives and activities that seek to prevent and minimise gambling harm in the community.

In response to the honourable member's question about reforms introduced in NSW and Tasmania, recent reforms introduced into South Australia have provided increased protections for South Australians affected by gambling harm.

While the decision to allow new technology gaming machines to be introduced in South Australia received bipartisan support from the government when we were in opposition, amendments moved by us and subsequently passed by the parliament ensure that players are not allowed to insert more than $100 into a gaming machine at a time and are prohibited from using $100 banknotes.

This is in stark contrast to NSW which has announced plans to introduce mandatory cashless gaming cards for gaming machines in that state not as a harm response measure but rather to combat the proceeds of crime flowing through gaming machines where a player is allowed to insert up to $5,000 into a gaming machine at any one time.

While a limited trial is currently being undertaken in a NSW gaming venue, a formal time frame for implementation is yet to be announced.

The government is closely monitoring the development of these proposals. Any relevant findings will inform the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner's advice to the government.