The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has introduced legislation to require cashless, account-based poker machines, ban ATMs at gaming venues and progressively reduce the number of authorised machines.
Gaming Reform Minister Marisa Paterson presented the Gaming Machine (Harm Prevention and Reduction) Amendment Bill 2026 to the Legislative Assembly. The proposal would amend the Gaming Machine Act 2004 and its regulation, combining player spending controls with changes to venue operations.
Verified Player Accounts Would Require Loss Limits And Regular Breaks
Under the proposed system, customers would need an identity-verified account and player card before using poker machines. They would also select a net loss limit when registering.
The bill proposes a compulsory 15-minute break after each hour of play. Players could lower their loss limits whenever they choose, but increases would require a 48-hour wait after setting the current limit.
Licensees could commit an offence by issuing a card to a child or allowing a child to use the account-based system. The proposed safeguards are intended to give players greater control over their gambling spending.
ATM Ban Would Accompany A Gradual Reduction In Machine Authorisations
This new legislation would replace the existing allowance for ATM withdrawals of up to $250 per gaming day with a complete prohibition at premises containing gaming machines. Compulsory surrender rounds would remove 500 authorisations every four years, beginning in 2029. The territory’s target is to reduce authorised poker machines to 1,000 by 2045.
The account-based gaming and ATM provisions would commence after written notice from the minister. An explanatory statement confirmed that this transition would allow venues to adapt their businesses and install the technology required for the system. The 2029 start for surrender rounds would also give clubs preparation time.
Gambling Harm Findings Support Reforms As Advocates Seek Stronger Measures
The 2024 ACT Gambling Survey found that around one in six adults, exceeding 58,000 people, had experienced gambling harm. Machines represented one-third of the territory’s total harm burden.
To ensure a thorough process, the government consulted clubs, community groups, researchers and the Gaming Technologies Association through a Cashless Gaming Working Group.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform welcomed the bill but sought statutory loss limits, enforceable breaks and longer shutdown periods. Elsewhere, New South Wales plans higher machine taxes, fewer machines over 10 years and mandatory facial recognition in pubs and clubs.
The ACT’s proposal connects spending controls with a longer-term reduction in machine availability. Its effectiveness will depend on strict enforcement and compliant technology. Clubs will need certainty over implementation dates and costs, while the government should measure whether the changes actually reduce harm.
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