The cashless gaming trial conducted by the NSW government, which focused on a limited number of participants, revealed that out of the 243 individuals who signed up initially, only 14 were deemed as regular and active users of the technology. Consequently, the expert panel found that there was a reluctance among patrons to fully embrace the cashless system.
The Independent Panel on Gaming Reform's final report proposed the implementation of a mandatory statewide account-based gaming system by 2028, allowing patrons to use a limited amount of cash alongside their electronic gaming accounts. The panel emphasized the need for a phased rollout to familiarize players with the new system, acknowledging concerns around cyber security, privacy, and financial monitoring.
Chair of the Independent Panel, Michael Foggo, explained the rationale behind keeping a limited amount of cash in gaming as a way to ease patrons into the transition to account-based gaming. The report suggested that while an identity-linked gaming account would be necessary for electronic gambling machine usage, a daily cash deposit threshold would be established by the NSW government. Additionally, ongoing analysis on the impact to the gaming industry is deemed necessary before making account-based gaming mandatory.