Public Consultations on Gambling Reforms Begin in New South Wales
The government of New South Wales has announced the start of public consultations regarding upcoming gambling reforms. These are designed to gather public feedback on key issues. Key points:
- The government is seeking information from the public regarding the exclusion of third parties from AU gambling activities, as well as mandatory player recognition;
- The upcoming reforms aim to minimize gambling-related risks and improve the protection of confidential data;
- The reforms will complement existing responsible gambling tools, including bet limits and restrictions on gambling advertising.
Public consultations have begun in New South Wales to discuss two upcoming gambling reforms. The changes primarily aim to address issues related to gambling harm and money laundering. A scheme is planned to exclude third parties from gambling activities and introduce specialized facial recognition technology.
The facial recognition system will enhance the operation of the state register of problem gamblers. The exclusion period will range from 12 months to 2-3 years. Additionally, a temporary 21-day restriction may be imposed while a third-party request is under review. Who can make an exception for a third party:
- Family;
- Friends;
- Representatives of gambling establishments.
Expert Opinion
I believe gambling law reforms are truly necessary. Statistics show that more and more Australians are facing gambling issues in recent years. Not all of them are able to seek help on their own.
As for facial recognition technology, its main goal is to improve control over gambling exclusion rules. This will minimize human error and prevent incidents where staff, due to insufficient vigilance, allowed excluded individuals into gambling venues. Despite the implementation of automated tools, human checks will still be in place.
At the moment, privacy concerns are also being addressed. The government aims to ensure that the data collected via this technology is not used by gambling establishments for surveillance, marketing, or player tracking.
The public consultations regarding the upcoming reforms will run until March 14. Industry representatives, privacy experts, and the general public are participating. The New South Wales government states that the aim of these reforms is to find a balance between minimizing gambling harm and the continued active development of the gambling sector.
Recently, a ban on gambling advertising was also introduced in the region. The ban will be implemented gradually over the next 12 months and will affect all forms of public transport.
