Tasmanian Government announces new slot machine spending cap

The Australian state of Tasmania will impose a default cap of AU$5,000 (US$3,340) per year on slot machines under new “harm minimisation” plans

The Australian nation of Tasmania testament impose a default crest of AU$5,000 (US$3,340) per twelvemonth on slot machines below new “harm minimisation” plans.

Following a report from Tasmania’s Liquor and Gaming Commission, the island’s Liberal Government has announced unexampled measures.

These include a state-wide “player identity card gaming system of rules with pre-commitment and cashless gaming,” a first of all for Australia.

The Tasmanian Government intends to implement this system past December 2024, establishing severe limits on gamblers’ daily, monthly and yearly spend.

By default, players’ expansion slot simple machine expenditure will be capped at AU$100 per day, AU$500 per month and AU$5,000 per year. Players will follow able to take down these limits at any time, or growth them “within certain parameters.”

“The impacts from play harm are felt crossways our communities, beyond the quick wallop on an single and their family,” a financial statement from Tasmania’s Deputy Premier, Michael Ferguson, read.

“This system testament protect people from losing to a greater extent than they canful afford.”

Ferguson’s statement also said this scheme will “provide those to the highest degree at danger of gambling harm with shelter piece having no impact on recreational gamblers.”

This plan, he added, testament allow the State Government to limited review so-called “secondary controls,” including the need for a restriction on Tasmania’s current one-armed bandit machine railway line limit.

“The Government has set to amend this limitation as pre-commitment will ensure a participant stays within the limits of what they can give disregardless of how many lines are played,” Ferguson stated.

“Harmonising with other jurisdictions by reverting to 50 lines testament living venues in transitioning to the unexampled venue licensing model.”

Further living testament be provided in the organise of additional funding for the Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA) to the tune of AU$268,000.

However, the THA has criticised the scheme. As reported past ABC, the association’s Chief Executive, Steve Old, said: “On any documentary measure, today's backflip is a smack inwards the face to hotel and pub customers and hardworking small and kinsfolk businesses inward Tasmania.”