written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
15 Dec 2023
Journalist, Editorial Department
Four gaming companies have received conditional approval to conduct a trial of cashless gambling in New South Wales, set to take place in 2024. The trial will involve 4,500 electronic gaming machines across various venues in the state.
Earlier this year, the New South Wales gaming regulator, Liquor & Gaming NSW, announced it was accepting applications from companies interested in participating in the trial. Ultimately, four brands were selected: Aristocrat, eBet, IGT, and Light & Wonder, all of which are members of the Gaming Technologies Association (GTA).
These gaming companies had already been testing cashless gaming in the state prior to the regulator's selection process. However, the list of conditions now includes stringent cybersecurity requirements. The aim of the trial is to facilitate further testing of the technology with user participation in different types of venues.
The Gaming Technologies Association has expressed support for the state's initiative. "Conditional approvals are a crucial step in the New South Wales Independent Gambling Reform Group's process. The government is exploring available technologies, their reliability, and future sustainability," the GTA stated.
GTA CEO Jinesh Patel emphasized that the association's goal is to ensure a fair and balanced path for the development of gaming technologies in Australia. "The trial is complex and costly, but we are determined to find a way forward and collaborate with the New South Wales government. The GTA is proud of its contribution, and its members are ready to succeed in Australia's first statewide trial," Patel added.
The trial is overseen by the New South Wales Independent Gambling Reform Group, which has conditionally approved 28 venues for testing cashless gaming: 20 clubs and 8 hotels. This initiative will specifically assess the impact of the technology on staff, infrastructure, and costs.
In January of this year, the previous state government announced plans to trial approximately 500 gaming machines to evaluate various technologies and their effects on users. In March, the new government continued the implementation of its predecessors' ideas, but instead of cashless gaming cards, the focus shifted to cashless gaming itself.
It is worth noting that Michael Gaughan, owner of South Point in Las Vegas, is promoting the casino business in Colorado.
