New harm minimisation measures for poker machines in local pubs and clubs are being implemented, featuring extended shutdown hours and new technology to manage players.
The Tasmanian Government announced the new rules earlier this year, which replace a previously promised mandatory player card system that would have capped gambler losses. According to a statement from Treasurer Eric Abetz, the changes aim to protect vulnerable people while respecting personal choice and reducing red tape.
Under the new system, gaming areas in venues will be required to shut down for seven hours every 24-hour period, an increase from the previous four-hour minimum. A “Ticket In, Ticket Out” system will be introduced, where players use a ticket to load funds. Machines will be limited to accepting $100 at a time, and the tickets themselves can be loaded with a maximum of $200.
Facial recognition technology will become mandatory in gaming venues to help enforce the self-exclusion scheme for problem gamblers. In a controversial move, the government will also permit ATMs back in gaming venues, on the condition they are fitted with the same facial recognition technology and have daily withdrawal limits.
These measures are a significant departure from the “gold standard” policy the government had previously committed to, based on recommendations from the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission. That plan, announced in 2022, centred on a universal pre-commitment card with default loss limits of $100 a day and $5,000 a year.
The government deferred the player card system indefinitely in late 2024, citing reports of implementation delays and cost increases. The decision to shelve the card system drew criticism from gambling reform advocates at the time.
According to the government, the new rules deliver on its commitment to increase harm minimisation measures. The current cap on the total number of poker machines in the state is 2,350, with the government noting this number has not historically been met. Venues have until June 30, 2026, to apply for licences up to that cap, after which a new limit will be set based on the number of machines in operation.