The Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) welcomes the introduction of the Gaming Machine (Harm Prevention and Reduction) Amendment Bill 2026, being introduced during Gambling Harm Awareness Week.
AGR Chief Advocate Rev. Tim Costello said: "The Gaming Machine Amendment Bill is nation-leading when it comes to tackling the harm caused by poker machines in our communities.
The ACT Government is showing that it is willing to stand up to vested interests and take meaningful action on gambling harm. “The ACT reforms are the new national benchmark. With upcoming state elections in Victoria and NSW, other states should be following the ACT’s lead in tackling poker machine harm with the same seriousness."
AGR supports the ban on ATM and EFTPOS cash withdrawals at venues with poker machines, simpler and stronger self-exclusion arrangements, the long-term reduction in poker machine numbers, and measures to help clubs build business models that rely less on gambling revenue.
AGR considers that the reforms could go further in relation to mandated loss limits, legislating breaks in play, and extending shutdown periods. The Bill could be further reformed in Parliament by:
• Legislating mandatory loss limits – widely regarded as the gold standard in preventing poker machine harm.
• Mandating enforceable breaks in play, rather than leaving these as discretionary.
• Extending poker machine shutdown periods – research consistently shows gambling harm is concentrated after midnight.
Mr Costello said cashless gaming was not a harm reduction measure in itself. "Cashless gaming only works as a harm reduction measure if it includes mandatory safeguards such as loss limits and enforced breaks in play," Mr Costello said.
"We also call for a central monitoring system that allows safeguards to follow a person between venues. Otherwise, a person can move quickly between venues and work around any loss limits or breaks in play."
AGR looks forward to consulting with Minister Paterson and the ACT Government on the finalisation and rollout of these reforms, and to working together to strengthen the legislation to build a national model for reform.
About us:
The Alliance for Gambling Reform is a national advocacy organisation working to reduce gambling harm in Australia. We partner with other organisations and with local councils to reduce the alarming level of gambling harm in Australia, we work to change the laws and rules governing the gambling industry. We do not seek to ban gambling. Rather we seek to influence government to minimise the harmful behaviours of the gambling industry and to give voice to those who are impacted by gambling harm.
Contact details:
For media enquiries, please contact Tim Costello (0411 633 446)