Wire ASIA & OCEANIA
NSW Government Expands Cashless Trial Te New South Wales Government has given the green light for an expanded
cashless gaming trial including 4,500 machines and five technology providers.
Te NSW Government’s Independent Panel on Gaming Reform has agreed on a bigger and broader cashless gaming trial as the Government continues its gambling reforms.
Tis expanded trial will include around 4,500 machines across 28 clubs and hotels across 24 metropolitan and regional local government areas. Te Independent Panel has endorsed a broad range of venues of various sizes for the trial, ensuring information can be collected and recommendations developed for the NSW Government. To participate in the trial, minimum requirements included harm minimisation protections, anti-money laundering protections, data security and privacy protections.
Five technology providers have been given conditional approval to participate in the extended trial, subject to essential cybersecurity requirements. Tese new machines are in addition to more than 250 machines that have already completed trials at Wests Newcastle and Club York, providing important early insights to the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2024, the new venues will provide insights into the use of cashless gaming technology in hotels and clubs, particularly on reducing gambling harm and money laundering, and impacts on club and hotel employees as well as infrastructure requirements and costs. Te information gathered will give valuable insight considering no jurisdiction in Australia has implemented a statewide cashless gaming system.
Te cashless gaming trial is being overseen by the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform, which was established by the NSW Government in July. Te Panel brings together representatives from industry (e.g. ClubsNSW), harm minimisation groups (e.g. Wesley Mission), academia, law enforcement, unions and a person with lived experience to find consensus on a pathway for gambling reform in NSW.
Te Independent Panel is scheduled to provide a gaming reform report to the NSW Government by November 2024, which will include information from the cashless gaming trial.
Philippines Philippines casino sector tipped to set records
GCG Gaming Advisory Services is predicting that the Philippines gaming sector will set an all time revenue record of between US$5bn and US$5.2bn in 2023, boosted by a record fourth quarter as Korean and Chinese players return.
It sees the Philippine gaming market as being able to challenge Singapore as Asia’s second best earning market. Whilst third quarter revenues of US$1.24bn were only slightly up from last year, GCG is predicting that the best ever quarter set in the fourth quarter of 2019 is ‘most likely to be exceeded in Q4 this year.’
“We expect to see increased growth in the Korean’s visitation and the gradual return of the Chinese,’ it said. Te advisory service is predicting revenue of up
to US$5.2bn, surpassing 2019 levels by five per cent.
“Clark is really the growth story in the Philippines,” GCG wrote. “In 2019 Clark generated US$235.1m in GGR. In 3Q23, Clark achieved US$160.4m alone. Te GGR this year is US$450.6m, well on the way to approx US$640m. Hann, D’Heights and Royce lead the pack whilst Midori, Casino Plus and Fontana continue to struggle against the influx of high-quality properties.
“Capital Casino, operated by PAGCOR brings up the rear. Other projects are in the early planning stages, whilst Royce continues to bring its new facilities online.”
GCG is predicting gaming revenues will double to US$10bn by 2027.
Australia
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has named Australian gaming and commercial leader Richard Howarth its new Chief Business Officer for the APAC region.
In his role, Mr. Howarth will spearhead business growth strategies for the company’s labs in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Macao. He will also direct client relationships with suppliers, operators, regulators, and industry bodies; and ensure alignment with delivery teams to meet the standards and expectations of the global gaming industry.
Most recently Howarth served as Chief Business Officer – Enterprise Technology Sales for IXUP Limited/BetStop, a technology company that creates responsible gaming products.
AUSTRALIA – Credit card transactions have now been banned in Australia for online gaming and betting following approval by the Senate of Australia of Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2023. Lottery players will though still be able to pay via credit cards. Whilst the move as a whole has been welcomed by Responsible Wagering Australia, the association was critical of the lottery ommission.
Responsible Wagering Australia CEO Kai Cantwell said that this change was much needed, as Australians should only be gambling with money that they have. “This is an important measure to protect customers and their loved ones, making it easier for people to stay in control of their own gambling behavior,” Mr Cantwell said. It will complement the existing offering of safer gambling account management tools by RWA members to customers to help them stay in control of their betting.
“It is disappointing to see that other forms of gambling such as lotteries and keno have been exempted from the ban, especially when lotteries are the most prevalent form of gambling in Australia and are commonly accessed by people in low- socioeconomic communities. The latest Australian Gambling Statistics show that Australians lost most than $3.2 billion on lotteries and keno in 2020-21. With the introduction of online keno in Victoria, keno losses increased more than 400 per cent from 2021-22 to 2022-23.
“Lotteries were also exempt from the National Self Exclusion Register, Betstop, meaning that Australians who have self-excluded from online gambling are not precluded from gambling up to $10,000 online at a time through lotteries. To effectively reduce harm, consumer protection measures must exist across all forms of gambling.”
AUSTRALIA - Tabcorp Holdings has been awarded the new and exclusive Victorian Wagering and Betting Licence (New Licence) by the Victorian Government for a period of 20 years commencing August 2024. The modernised licence terms aim to create a level playing field in Victoria for taxes and fees and enhancing Tabcorp’s ongoing competitiveness with no racing industry joint venture or obligations under the new licence. The Victorian Government has committed to ensure exclusivity before and during the term of the new licence.
Tabcorp Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Adam Rytenskild, said: “Today is momentous in the journey of our company post demerger. This is a positive outcome for our shareholders, the Victorian Government and industry stakeholders. I am particularly pleased with the terms we have secured under this new licence.”
WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS P21
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