Researchers sought for pokies trial

The Federal Government has called for tenders from interested parties to undertake research on its proposed mandatory pre-commitment scheme for gaming machines.

Listed on the AusTender website, the ATM (Approach To Market) aims to engage an entity to "research the design of an optimum pre-commitment system and forms part of the Australian Government's commitment to implement measures under the National Gambling Reform Acts".

Originally mandated to begin February 2013, the ACT clubs lobby has previously warned that the long delay in finalising Labor's gambling package puts the Territory's proposed trial of MPC technology in doubt – in particular as a federal election looms and a new government may reverse or alter the scheme.

The Gaming Technologies Association (GTA) maintains that the trial has no chance of beginning next month, telling TheShout that there is much still to be determined.

"There's no monitoring system, no network, no specifications and no idea. This might not happen in my lifetime," said GTA CEO, Ross Ferrar.

"It will take at least a year from when specifications are agreed, for the first redeveloped game to be approved and available.

"This is as ridiculous as the pink batts scheme."

Source: The Shout, 30 January 2013