In the near future, pubs and clubs across Canberra will be taking part in a trial of mandatory pre-commitment software for pokies. The federal government is now taking the appropriate measures to prepare for this project, searching for a team of researchers to aid in the trial of the new software.

Although poker machine reform means that only voluntary pre-commitment will be rolled out on a national level, mandatory pre-commitment is also being trialled. This comes as great news to responsible gambling advocates like Senator Nick Xenophon and MP Andrew Wilkie. The two politicians fought long and hard to have mandatory pre-commitment software installed on poker machines across the country.

This is certainly a compromise, but it is a step in the right direction. In preparation for the trial, the federal politicians have launched a tender process, whereby qualified professionals can bid on the project. According to the Request for Expressions of Interest, the government is looking for a team that will research “an optimum pre-commitment system”.

There have been plenty of delays for this trial. It was supposed to have started in February 2013, and the federal government is only making the necessary preparations now. Considering that we are only in the stages of seeking out mandatory pre-commitment researchers, the trial is not likely to begin until next year. However, it does seem to be better late than never, as the well-being of the general public is at stake.

Mandatory pre-commitment requires all pokie players to set betting limits before they play. This differs from the voluntary pre-commitment software that is currently being rolled out nationally, which only gives players the option of doing so. As such, many responsible gambling advocates believe that mandatory pre-commitment is a more effective strategy for reducing problem gambling rates, but this is heavily disputed.

The upcoming ACT trial will determine, once and for all, whether voluntary pre-commitment is more effective than mandatory pre-commitment.

About the Author

George Anderson
Author George, has over 25+ years’ experience in the Pokies and Casinos industry throughout Australia and New Zealand. Loves to research new Pokies games on the block and follows announcements from top industry providers about their upcoming releases. As soon as a new interesting pokie game appears on his radar, George is there to check it out and give you the scoop before anyone else and tell you about all casino sites where can play the latest game. Before this gig, George worked as Pokie game tester, making him an ideal candidate for this genre of work. He is also an animal lover and a proud owner of three dogs.