The NSW minister for Hospitality and Racing, Kevin Anderson, has announced a three-month trial to test the potential benefits of technology developed by Aristocrat Gaming for venues and patrons. The trial will involve the installation of the technology on 36 gaming machines, allowing patrons to connect their mobile phones to the machines via Bluetooth. During the trial, up to 200 members will have access to the system, with the ability to transfer money directly from their phone’s gaming wallet onto the machine.
In addition, the technology will enable players to set limits on gambling activities, such as the maximum duration for a continuous gaming session, the number of visits to a venue within a specified period, total net expenditure, and maximum bets in a given period. Once these limits are set, they cannot be changed for at least 24 hours.
According to Anderson, this trial marks an exciting new era for innovations like digital wallets, which offer customers more convenience and control over their spending. Moreover, such technology helps venues and authorities identify suspected cases of money laundering. The digital wallet used in the trial can be used to fund gaming machine play, allowing players to set spending or time limits, access real-time spending data, take breaks or self-exclude from gambling, and access other responsible gambling tools and services. It is important to note that patrons cannot load funds into the gaming wallet from the gaming floor.
Furthermore, the digital wallet requires confirmation of a person’s identity before they can play, as it is linked to their debit card or bank account. This linkage enables authorities to identify the source of funds if necessary.
Anderson revealed that the NSW government has approved three other gaming manufacturers, IGT, Utopia Gaming, and Scientific Games, to conduct similar trials. Additionally, another application is currently under assessment. These trials aim to explore different technologies and solutions for cashless gaming play in NSW, as well as test important harm minimisation measures that empower individuals to take greater control over their gambling activities.
