Operator News
Australia –Intralot to supply voluntary pre-commitment scheme
By Phil - 2 September 2013
Intralot Gaming Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intralot Australia, has been selected as the preferred provider by the Victorian State Government in Australia, to implement a voluntary pre-commitment scheme for the approximately 27,500 electronic gaming machines across the State including those in casinos.
The pre-commitment scheme is planned to be in place from December 1 of 2015 subject to the enactment of legislation, the issuing of a Ministerial direction and successful contract negotiations. Intralot will operate the pre-commitment scheme until 2027.
The Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Edward O’ Donohue MLC, stated: “The Coalition Government made an election commitment to introduce voluntary pre-commitment, and is the first government in Australia to do so. Pre-commitment is a vital harm minimisation and consumer protection measure that will help players control their gambling and avoid it escalating to harmful levels. I am pleased to announce that the monitoring licensee, Intralot Gaming Services, has been determined to be the preferred provider. With the company’s monitoring equipment already installed in Victoria, this option requires the least cost and effort for operators, and less duplication of infrastructure.”
Antonis Markopoulos, Intralot’s Deputy Managing Director Asia Pacific, stated: “We are very pleased with the Government’s decision to select us as the preferred provider of pre-commitment in Victoria. This decision follows our successful implementation of the monitoring licence project in Victoria which culminated in the successful completion of gaming venue migration in early 2013. We look forward to successfully completing contractual negotiations with the State Government on pre-commitment in the near future. We also look forward to delivering this important project to the State to the highest quality, within budget and on time.”
Peter Sidwell, Chairman of Intralot Australia, heralded the decision citing the pre – commitment technology solution as “best of breed”. He added: “We are clearly delighted to expand on our existing relationship with the government. Pre-commitment represents a maturing of the social consciousness in regard to Responsible Gaming. We are delighted to be leaders in this important development.”
The Victorian pre-commitment scheme will be voluntary for players. It will, however, be mandatory on all gaming machines operating in Victoria including at Crown Casino. Players will be able to set time and amount limits on any electronic gaming machine, track their play across the State and electronically access their personalised information at any gaming venue.
In September 2011 Intralot Gaming Services Pty Ltd was awarded the Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) Monitoring Licence for a period of 15 years. Over 25,000 EGMs in Victoria have been already connected to and monitored by the iGEM electronic monitoring system supplied and operated by Intralot.
