Federal Government Prepares for Mandatory Pre-Commitment Trial

Last year, pokie reform was passed, ending a long battle between MP Andrew Wilkie and the Gillard government. The legislation will require all poker machines in the country to install voluntary pre-commitment software – in addition to launching a mandatory pre-commitment trial in the ACT.

The difference between voluntary pre-commitment and mandatory pre-commitment are fairly self-explanatory. With voluntary pre-commitment, you have the choice to set your own betting limits before you play. With mandatory pre-commitment, you are required to do so. While the rest of the country will be rolling out voluntary pre-commitment technology, ACT pokie venues will be trialling the other type of software.

The trial was originally scheduled to begin in February 2013. However, as is the case with most government gambling programs, it was delayed. Only now are government officials beginning to start to search for researchers and developers that will help conduct the trial. A tender process has begun, allowing research firms and gaming developers to apply for the opportunity to trial mandatory pre-commitment software.

The results of this trial will be very important to Australia’s poker machine market. If mandatory pre-commitment is proven to be successful at reducing problem gambling rates, then a nation-wide rollout of the technology may be required.