New EGM harm minimisation measures implemented in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government is delivering a strong suite of new harm minimisation measures for electronic gaming machines in hotels and clubs.

New measures include longer closing hours for gaming areas in hotels and clubs, a Ticket In and Ticket Out system and provisions to make self-exclusion immediate.

Treasurer Eric Abetz said the Government is taking strong action to protect those who need it while also respecting individual choice.

"As a community, we must seek to protect the most vulnerable among us," the Treasurer said.

"We also must accept that people have a right to their own agency.

"As a Government, our focus is to reduce red tape and regulation, not personal freedoms.”

Currently hotels and clubs have a mandatory four hour closure of their gaming areas registered at a time of their choosing. The enforced closing period will be increased by 75 per cent to seven hours every 24 hours.

Ticket In Ticket Out will be introduced into hotels and clubs with limitations as follows:

• A ticket can only be loaded onto a gaming machine to a maximum of $200; and
• An electronic gaming machine can only be loaded with a maximum of $100 at any given time.

The current cap on electronic gaming machines for hotels and clubs is 2,350 and historically has not been met. Hotels and clubs will have until 30 June 2026 to apply for licences to meet this cap, should they wish.

After 30 June, a new cap will be in place which will be the number of EGMs taken up at this point.  After this, the intention is the cap will be reduced through natural attrition over time where every second surrendered or forfeited machine will be removed from the cap.

Currently there is a cumbersome process for people to self-exclude from venues. New technology, once developed, will allow for an immediate self-exclusion process with QR codes available at venues.

Facial recognition technology will be mandatory with images of all registered excluded patrons obtained through the Tasmanian Gambling Exclusion Scheme. This is designed to make venues more effective at enforcing exclusion.

Further, venues will be permitted to host an ATM onsite under the condition it is fitted with facial recognition technology with a limit set for withdrawals every 24 hours.

“These reforms deliver on our commitment to increase harm minimisation measures while we continue to monitor progress interstate of the pre-commitment gaming card,” Treasurer Abetz said.