The Minns Labor Government is continuing to work with industry to develop new harm minimisation measures to combat high risk gambling.
The government is launching a landmark guide for the use of facial recognition in pubs and clubs which sets out minimum expectations for industry should venues voluntarily operate facial recognition technology.
The code of practice has been developed to provide guidance to hotels and clubs with gaming machines which are already using this technology and prepare industry for future changes to gaming legislation to mandate the use of facial recognition in venues, once the statewide exclusion register is operating.
The implementation of facial recognition technology aims to minimise gambling harm and prevent money laundering, by enforcing statewide exclusions in NSW hotels and clubs.
Given the sensitivity of the biometric data that facial recognition technology collects, the code is a critical guide for industry. The Minister for Gaming & Racing has approved the code of practice under section 48 of the Gaming Machines Act 2001.
The code was developed following a full consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including advocates and experts in the fields of gambling and health, government, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, the NSW Privacy Commissioner, industry, businesses and facial recognition service providers.
The government is committed to continuing to work in collaboration with industry and other stakeholders to ensure the appropriate facial recognition technology and practices are implemented along with ensuring hotels and clubs can satisfy all requirements in the code.
The code can be found on the Liquor & Gaming NSW website here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/liquor-and-gaming/resources/facial-recognition-technology-hotels-and-clubs
The government is pursuing an evidence-based approach to addressing gambling harm, including:
- Removing outdated exemptions that enabled hundreds of pubs and clubs to operate gaming machines during standard shutdown hours, with over 600 venues required to shut down all gaming machines between 4am to 10am each day by the 31 March 2026 deadline
- Reducing the cash input limit from $5,000 to $500 for all new gaming machines
- Reducing the state-wide cap on gaming machine entitlements, so that every year the number of gaming machines reduces based on forfeiture rates
- Banning political donations from clubs with electronic gaming machines
- Banning external gaming-related signage and internal gaming-related signage that can be seen from outside the venue
- Introducing Responsible Gambling Officers in venues with more than 20 gaming machine entitlements and mandating that extra Responsible Gambling Officers be on duty in venues after midnight
- Mandating that all venues with gaming machines must keep a Gaming Plan of Management and a Gambling Incident Register
- Banning gambling advertising on public transport and the ferries and terminals people catch it from.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:
"I'm pleased to launch a NSW-first code of practice for venues operating facial recognition technology to help pubs and clubs negotiate the complex landscape to best support the identification of excluded patrons.
"The Minns Labor Government takes gambling harm minimisation seriously and while the Coalition sat on their hands during their 12 years in government, we are continuing to work with industry to develop new and innovative measures to minimise patrons' harm.
"We will continue to deliver evidence-based reforms to ensure we are striking the balance of addressing gambling harm while supporting an industry that contributes billions to the NSW economy and employs more than 150,000 people."
