Today the ACT Government will introduce legislation to further reduce gambling harm in the ACT.
Introduced during Gambling Harm Action Week (19-25 October), the Gaming Machine (Harm Prevention and Reduction) Amendment Bill 2026 delivers key elements of the government's coordinated gambling harm reduction agenda and commitments made at the 2024 ACT election.
The Bill will:
- establish mandatory account-based cashless gaming at all ACT venues with poker machines
- introduce harm reduction safeguards, including pre-commitment and mandatory breaks in play
- ban ATMs from venues with poker machines
- establish a legislated pathway to reduce gaming machine authorisations to no more than 1,000 by 2045
- require the surrender of at least 500 gaming machine authorisations every four years until the target is reached.
Minister for Gaming Reform, Dr Marisa Paterson, said Gambling Harm Action Week highlights the collective effort required to prevent gambling harm and promote safer gambling practices across our community.
"These nation-leading reforms are for every person who has experienced gambling harm, for the loved ones who have supported them through it, and for those we can help protect from experiencing that harm in the future.
"The gambling industry's responsibility does not end at providing entertainment. It must play an active role in preventing and minimising the harm gambling can cause to individuals, families and communities.
"At the 2024 election, ACT Labor was the only party with a comprehensive plan to reduce gambling harm. Over the past two years we have delivered on a range of those commitments, and today we are introducing the most significant gambling reforms in the ACT's history."
The government also invites the community and stakeholders to provide feedback to the Gambling and Racing Commission's draft 2027-2032 Harm Prevention Strategy, which will guide activity across all of the Commission's regulatory functions.
Feedback on the draft Strategy is open until Monday 16 November 2026. To have your say, visit the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission website.
