By Aimee Chanthadavong
Twin Towns Services Club in Tweed Heads is leading the charge as the first venue to participate in the NSW government’s expanded cashless gaming trial.
The Twin Towns Services Club will trial the technology on all 596 gaming machines, which according to the state government will be the largest trial site in regional NSW.
“Twin Towns has been one of many clubs that has promoted having a cashless option for players for almost a decade,” Twin Towns Services Club CEO Rob Smith said in a statement.
“We view this technology as a natural progression of society’s move to use less cash in their daily lives and move to more digital payment platforms.”
Club patrons can now receive a demonstration on how to use the updated machines as the technology provider ebet completes the final stages of testing, with full integration expected by early April.
According to ebet, customers can sign up using the cardit+ app where a full ID verification will be conducted. Once that’s completed, patrons can link their bank account and use either their existing membership card or cardit+ app at the gaming machine. ebet suggested the process can be completed within three minutes.
“In our highly regulated environment this is not as simple as ‘tap and go’ and needs to bring with it safeguards for players and the industry,” Smith said.
“Being part of that evolution, with our partners ebet, is ensuring that the solution we end up with meets everybody’s needs, with the players at the centre of that mission.”
Twin Towns Services Club is one of 27 clubs and hotels approved by the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform to take part in the expanded trial. Under this expanded trial, cashless gaming technology will be installed in over 4,000 gaming machines across the state.
According to the state government, the trial will continue to roll out across NSW in a stage approached with more venues to switch on during April, including West HQ in Rooty Hill, which will have 720 gaming machines in the trial.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said starting the expanded cashless gaming trial is a key step to gambling reform that reduces harm and prevents money laundering.
“The panel has taken the time to ensure there is an appropriate mix of venues and technology providers, as well as necessary cybersecurity protections in place,” he said.
“It is great to have industry on board with these reforms and I look forward to the insights from this landmark trial and how we can continue to work together to reduce gambling harm.”
ClubsNSW has welcomed the NSW government’s launch of the cashless gaming trial at Twin Towns Services Club.
“Our Association has been a strong advocate for digital payment options on gaming machines since 2016, and we are committed to strengthening protections for those who experience gambling harm,” a ClubsNSW spokesperson said.
“We look forward to seeing further trials rolled out in clubs right across the state and eagerly await the results of those trials.”
The expanded trial is 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.
The cashless gaming trial is being overseen by the Independent Panel on Gaming Reform, which was established by the NSW Government in July 2023. The aim of the trial is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of adopting cashless gaming technologies across all clubs and hotels in NSW.
The Independent Panel on Gaming Reform is scheduled to deliver a gaming reform report to the NSW government in November 2024.
This piece was first published in our sister publication, Club Management.