A trial of cashless gambling technology in New South Wales, Australia, yielded minimal changes in gambler behavior, according to recent findings. The trial, one of the first of its kind in the region, faced criticism from gambling reform advocates despite its responsible gambling features and limit-setting functionalities.
The trial involved equipping 144 slot machines with technology that enables players to transfer funds directly from their smartphones' digital wallets to the gaming devices. Although the technology functioned effectively after some initial technical glitches, the results indicated little alteration in the amounts deposited by players, session durations, or the number of participants.
While the trial demonstrated the viability of the technology, it fell short of significantly impacting gambling behaviors as anticipated. The findings underscore the complexities of addressing problem gambling through technological interventions and highlight the need for further research and targeted strategies in this domain.