NSW Government Advances Statewide Gambling Exclusion Register with Facial Recognition Mandate
TL;DR — NSW will implement a statewide gambling exclusion system with mandatory facial recognition from 2028, following the NSW Gambling Survey 2024 showing 3.1% of adults experience moderate-risk gambling and 0.9% experience high-risk gambling. Reforms increase the forfeiture rate from one in three to one in two, prohibit ads on NSW Government and council-owned assets and require express consent for direct marketing.
SCCG Take — Operators must integrate facial recognition and revise VIP and marketing practices ahead of 2028. The centralized technology approach offers a scalable enforcement model for other regulated jurisdictions.
The Minns Labor Government has announced wide-ranging gambling reforms that establish a single statewide exclusion system as a core protection measure. Mandatory facial recognition technology at gaming-room entrances will support the system from 2028.
The changes follow the NSW Gambling Survey 2024, which found 3.1% of adults experience moderate-risk gambling and 0.9% experience high-risk gambling. They tighten controls on gaming machines, promotions and online harm, as reported by Casino News Daily.
Centralized Exclusion Replaces Fragmented Venue Arrangements
Individuals will register exclusions through one system covering hotels and clubs with gaming machines. This replaces the current model of venue-by-venue voluntary arrangements.
Mandatory facial recognition from 2028 will enable venues to identify excluded persons and will assist NSW Police with preventing money laundering and related criminal activity. A third-party exclusion scheme for hotels and clubs will also be introduced.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “These are common sense reforms that have been developed alongside industry, harm minimisation groups, stakeholders and privacy experts to address gambling harm while supporting the industry and protecting the livelihoods of the many people it employs. By combining new technology, stronger exclusion tools, strengthened regulation and increased funding for harm reduction, we are building a safer system for the future.”
Tighter Machine Limits, Advertising Rules and Dedicated Funding
The state operates about 87,000 poker machines across roughly 2,100 clubs and hotels. Reforms will raise the forfeiture rate on traded gaming machine entitlements from one in three to one in two. A new sinking cap will reduce the statewide limit as entitlements exit circulation. VIP programmes associated with gaming will end.
Gambling advertising will be prohibited on NSW Government and council-owned assets. Betting providers must obtain express consent for direct marketing calls, emails or texts. Transparency rules will cover affiliate and influencer promotions, with restrictions on commissions for higher-risk products.
The government will upgrade its Centralised Monitoring System over the next two years ahead of account-based play. It will invest $95.2 million over four years, sourced from the remaining $100 million gambling harm minimisation fund and increased licence fees. An additional $20 million over two years will support the Responsible Gambling Fund, including services such as GambleAware.
Harris noted the government will continually explore emerging technology to maintain up-to-date safety measures.
Reporting: Casino News Daily
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
A centralized, biometric exclusion system sets the global standard for responsible gaming enforcement — and raises the compliance bar everywhere.
We've worked in every regulated market, and this is the most ambitious technical enforcement regime yet. NSW is forcing operators to move from opt-in theater to real-time biometric accountability. The model will be studied — and copied — by regulators worldwide, and operators unprepared for infrastructure integration will face serious friction.
- Statewide facial recognition exclusion system replaces venue-by-venue voluntary programs from 2028
- Forfeiture rate doubles to one in two; VIP gaming programs banned; express consent required for direct marketing
- NSW survey: 3.1% moderate-risk, 0.9% high-risk gamblers — data driving tech-first harm reduction strategy
SCCG angle: SCCG connects operators to the compliance technology providers and regulatory advisors who can architect scalable facial recognition and exclusion integrations before 2028. We've been through every major regulatory shift across 545 partners — we know who can execute and who can't when the deadline is real.
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