Critics have questioned the Tasmanian government's commitment to nation-leading pokies reforms after the premier said a "more measured approach" was needed.
In 2022, then-treasurer Michael Ferguson heralded the planned introduction of a cashless gaming card as the "gold standard of harm minimisation measures".
Under the scheme, gamblers would have their losses capped at $100 per day, $500 per month and $5,000 per year.
The scheme was originally meant to roll out by the end of this year, but it has since been delayed until December 2025.
On Monday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff was asked if the government was still committed to the mandatory scheme.
"We're working through that now," Mr Rockliff said.
"And I expect to make a decision in the not-too-distant future when it comes to all the available information in terms of cost of implementation, in terms of impact on business, particularly in regional areas, and when it comes to the increase in other technologies, such as facial recognition."
Critics of the announcement say the government is attempting to set up a rationale to walk away from the card. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
Earlier this month, under questioning in parliament, the government revealed it had sought advice from consultancy firm Deloitte about the scheme's impact on the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The government is also assessing feedback from a discussion paper, which was released by the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission in September.
"You would expect us to be very considered in our approach," Mr Rockliff said.
"We're committed to the card still, but we need a more measured approach when we roll out such a policy," Mr Rockliff said.
Scheme will cause mass venue closures, THA says
Mr Rockliff made his comments shortly after the Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA) warned that mandatory cashless cards would have a devastating impact on the local industry.
"On some of the data we've got, it'll close up to half of our venues if the cashless card system went ahead," THA chief executive Steve Old said.
The ABC requested the data from the THA, but it declined to provide it.
Mr Old said the government should instead introduce a facial recognition system to prevent self-excluded gamblers from entering gaming venues.
In 2022, there were 353 people on the exclusion scheme, while Tasmania's gambling regulator estimated that 90 per cent of "at risk" pokies players were not part of the scheme.
Steve Old is concerned the mandatory pre-commitment card will negatively impact pokies venues. (ABC News)
Mr Old said the facial recognition technology would be more targeted and effective than mandatory cashless gaming cards.
"Under the current [proposed] system … the problem gambler can lose $5,000 a year on a mandatory card system, but with facial recognition technology, they can't lose anything," he said.
"So, if you're an excluded gambler that goes into a venue and you're on facial [recognition] technology, you walk in the door, [it] buzzes off to someone in the venue, and you don't spend a cent in that venue.
"And I think that's a great outcome for a person who's got a problem."
Mr Rockliff has commissioned a review into the effect of the card-based cashless system on jobs. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
In 2022, the Tasmania Liquor and Gaming Commission found facial recognition was "not an effective tool for wider prevention of harm in gaming venues".
The commission also found that more than 70 per cent of people who contact Tasmanian gambling helplines do so due to pokies, with online betting the second highest at 14 per cent, following by race betting at 9 per cent.
Critics say government is 'walking away' from reforms
Independent MLC Meg Webb, a long-time anti-pokies campaigner, said the industry was putting "intense pressure" on the government to "either water down or entirely kill off the pokies card".
She said she would move a motion on Tuesday calling on the government to release the terms of reference for the Deloitte report.
"What we're seeing from the government is an attempt to set up a rationale to walk away from the card through this secretive Deloitte analysis that's being undertaken," Ms Webb said.
"Make no mistake, the Deloitte Access review is intended to disrupt and derail the mandatory pokies pre-commitment card implementation process currently underway."
Meg Webb says the announcement of a Deloitte Access review on the precommitment card policy signals an attempt to kill off the pokies reform. ( ABC News: Luke Bowden )
Greens MP Vica Bayley said the premier's push for a "more measured approach" showed the government would not follow through with its original commitment.
"The pokies lobbyists are winning yet again," Mr Bayley said.
"Watering down the key pillars of the pokies pre-commitment card is a shameful decision that will mean more harm done to more Tasmanians.
"All of this simply to protect the profits of the pokies industry."
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