Gambling card a ‘powerful mechanism’ to stop organised crime: Bergin

Ms Bergin’s report, released on Tuesday said a gambling card, as proposed by the government, would track cash through a casino and be a “powerful mechanism” in tackling money laundering.

Under the most significant gaming reforms in the state’s history, NSW would move to completely cashless poker machines and players would be required to register for a gambling card.

The changes would force gamblers to register and pre-load money to the card, which would operate similarly to the state’s cashless Opal cards for the public transport network.

Senior cabinet Minister Victor Dominello, who has responsibility for gambling, is leading the charge for the reforms but will have to convince his colleagues, some of whom fear a backlash from pubs and clubs.

The inquiry’s report says a gambling card would be a “matter for government” but casinos are “free to introduce their own mechanisms of a similar kind for their own patrons”.

“There is a recent development in this regard in NSW with a proposal for the introduction of a ‘gambling card’ that would enable the tracking of cash through a casino,” the report says.

It says the proposal “has been the subject of some public debate and is not free from controversy”.

“However, it appears that the very significant utility of the card to assist the problem gambler would not be an issue. It is also obvious that it would be a powerful mechanism to assist in combating money laundering.”

In responding to the Bergin report, Mr Dominello said: “Among other things, the report raises serious issues relating to organised crime and money laundering in our community.”