The Minns Labor government of New South Wales announced on Thursday that it will provide an additional AU$1.3 million (about US$927,000) annually to GambleAware, the main provider of gambling harm support services in the state. This funding will be used to expand peer support and frontline assistance, increasing the number of service outlets from 34 to 49, a 44% increase. Additionally, five new peer support staff will be added, bringing the total number of full-time staff to 16. According to the PASA website, this is the latest step in the Minns government's agenda to minimize gambling harm, which is accelerating across Australia.
Service Expansion: 19,000 counseling sessions, 9,500 crisis calls
GambleAware's services include free counseling, financial advice, peer support, and a 24-hour crisis hotline. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, GambleAware supported 4,170 clients through more than 19,000 counseling sessions and handled over 9,500 crisis calls through the hotline. Six service providers were awarded contracts through a competitive tender process to continue providing services in 10 regions of NSW, including Wesley Community Services, Regional Community Care, Armidale CentaCare, Mission Australia, Uniting, and St Vincent's Hospital Sydney. The contracts are for three years with an option to extend for two more years, and the specific amounts have not been disclosed. David Harris, Minister for Gaming and Racing, cited an independent evaluation report concluding that GambleAware provides "high-quality, safe, and efficient" services, but noted the need for increased community engagement, peer support, and operational costs— "that's why we responded with an additional AU$1.3 million."
NSW Reform Agenda: From cash limits to facial recognition
This funding increase is part of the Minns government's broader gambling reform agenda. Measures implemented since taking office include: 1. Increasing the Responsible Gambling Fund to AU$20.7 million (2025-26), up AU$1.5 million from the previous year; 2. Reducing the cap on slot machine entitlements by over 3,000; 3. New slot machine cash input limits reduced from AU$5,000 to AU$500; 4. Large venues equipped with responsible gambling officers; 5. Implementation of mandatory incident registers and slot machine management plans; 6. Relocating ATMs away from slot machine areas; 7. Prohibiting external gambling signage; 8. Mandatory electronic slot machine shutdown from 4 AM to 10 AM; 9. Developing facial recognition technology and statewide exclusion registers to aid self-exclusion. Each measure is tightening regulations.
Federal Reforms Echoing the UK: The strictest advertising ban in history
At the federal level, the Australian government announced a reform plan in April this year, three years after the milestone Murphy Report was submitted. The reforms target gambling advertising, with core measures including a TV watershed ban and prohibiting celebrity endorsements. Minister Anika Wells described it as "the strictest reform in Australian history." GambleAware in the UK has also called on the British government to adopt similar reforms, suggesting restrictions on marketing for gambling activities most associated with harm (such as casino games and slot machines) and banning influencers, celebrities, and promoters from endorsing operators. From NSW to all of Australia and to the UK, gambling regulation is shifting from "voluntary self-regulation" to "mandatory enforcement."
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel: https://t.me/pasa_news
Original in-depth gambling channel: https://t.me/gamblingdeep
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PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
