Shoalhaven Ex-Services Group (SESG) CEO Bernie Brown recently shared that participating in the latest NSW digital wallet trial, which is currently underway, was a strategic decision.
Speaking at the RSL & Services Clubs Association (RSL & SCA) 23rd annual conference in Canberra, Brown said taking part in the trial has provided an opportunity to have front-row access to the decision-making process that would impact the industry.
“Whenever there’s regulatory reform or new technology being implemented, it’s very, very important for industry to be at the table,” he said.
“History has shown that this is a nuanced area with numerous stakeholders. If we’re not there – if we’re not in that discussion, at that table, respectfully having that dialogue and being prepared to put ourselves out there to implement these new technologies and be part of trials – then it’ll come… and then we’ll all be impacted.”
Aristocrat Interactive gaming systems APAC general manager Craig Butler, who joined Brown on a panel at the RSL & SCA event to discuss sustainable gaming, agreed. Aristocrat Gaming provided the technology for the initial cashless trial in Wests Newcastle.
“When we first spoke to Wests Newcastle about hosting the first digital wallet trial, we had other stakeholders outside of clubs question why we were doing the trial – but credit to Wests and the clubs industry. I think there’s been a huge and really commendable shift in the thinking in the market and by different customer bases,” Butler said.
“Regardless of whose system you have, there’s now genuine collaboration and openness. This is coming. It’s part of the new norm. We’ve just got to be able to be at the table collaborating with our industry bodies, with each other, and be prepared to learn and share our mistakes.”
Brown also expressed hope that the technology used in the trial will continue to be adopted after the trial ends, eventually leading to a hybrid gaming environment and providing patrons more choice.
“I believe moving forward, people may become more comfortable interacting with the digital wallet, making it more mainstream. It could be natural progression for us as an industry to incorporate this new way of interacting, enhancing safer gambling and AML obligations,” he said.