Government Suspends All Licensing Programs for New Slots Due to Complaints

By John Isaac,
Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac Editor at online-gambling.com

John Isaac is an editor with many years of experience in the gambling industry. He writes expert articles on card games like blackjack and poker. In addition, he is also well aware of the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets. You can rely on verified information and insightful details.

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Last updated: September 26, 2022

The Northern Territory (NT) of Australia no longer plans to authorize new slot machines. The initial idea was to allow up to 60 machines in restaurants and bars, but that has now been called off. Public backlash turned out to be higher than authorities had anticipated. The NT government revealed in August that it was considering a proposal that allows Iris Capital to increase the number of slots in Alice Springs by up to 60. As soon as the announcement was made, there was opposition.

However, according to a recent update from Chansey Paech, NT’s gaming minister, the government decided to withdraw the request after it received about 700 complaints from citizens of the state. Officials will now go back to the drawing board to develop a new proposal. Not just Iris is affected by the decision. The government has suspended the whole licensing program for new slots, so no one can apply until NT is ready. According to local media, the most likely month is June of 2023.

Adding 60 Slots to the Existing Ones May Enhance Problem Gambling

One of Iris’s recent acquisitions is Casino Canberra. Iris Capital purchased this casino in July. The purchase allowed Iris to increase its footprint in Australia greatly. But that wasn’t all, the company then contacted NT about including the new slots. Few months before this time, as part of its shopping spree, it had acquired the Lasseters Casino in Alice Springs. With the acquisition of this casino, it had already gained one hundred and thirty-two (132) new slots in the state.

The feedback NT got was that an additional 60 would saturate the market and encourage more problem gambling. Without the new machines, there’s already a slot for every 94 people in the state, according to figures from the government. Because of this, NT wants to halt and review its licensing procedure for gambling machines. Now, Chansey Paech, together with other government officials, will take on that assignment and choose the best course of action.

Growing Popularity of Online Slots

Slot machines provide a guaranteed source of income in many gambling jurisdictions. For example, in Las Vegas, the Nevada Gaming Control Board mentions that 70% of gamblers play slots. They’re popular among casino patrons because they’re simple to learn and play. As the land-based market for slot machines is becoming tighter in Australia, one of the industry’s oldest manufacturers is embracing the future. Aristocrat Leisure Ltd, an Australian gambling machine manufacturer since 1953, is expanding its iGaming presence. Aristocrat also specialises in online slots.

Aristocrat once targeted the world-renowned provider Playtech for acquisition, but the deal never materialized. The company continues to target RMG (real money gaming) iGaming segment. It announced recently that it had found its newest acquisition. Aristocrat is in talks to acquire Roxor Gaming Ltd., a B2B online gaming company that is based in London. Roxor Gaming has existing access to the US and UK markets, giving Aristocrat a platform to boost its RMG ambitions. However, whether that will happen or not is yet to be seen.