The Canberra Times published an article stating that the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) administration is treading cautiously on the issue of decreasing the quantity of slot machines, despite the fact that the figure continues to gradually diminish.
Apparently, the Labor Party and the Greens have a pact to reduce the number of gaming machines in Canberra’s social establishments to 3,500 by 2024. At present, there are 3,611 machines in operation out of a total of 3,863 permitted for use. The catch is that COVID severely impacted clubs, forcing the government to modify its approach. Gaming Minister Shane Rattenbury recognizes that reaching that 3,500 objective will necessitate meticulous policy over the coming years, including identifying methods to assist clubs in transitioning away from such a heavy dependence on slot machine income. He stressed that the pandemic’s consequences on clubs, which fall under the hospitality sector, cannot be disregarded. This development coincides with the ACT government’s preparations to distribute another series of grants from its industry diversification fund.
This collaborative pool, established in 2019, represents a joint initiative by numerous organizations. Each entity contributes – for a maximum of 99 gaming devices they possess, they allocate 20 Australian dollars (approximately 14 US dollars) monthly. This capital can then be utilized by the organizations for endeavors that reduce their dependence on said gaming devices as a source of revenue. Consider it a mechanism for broadening their income channels.