Reducing the risk of gambling harm
Changes to gambling laws aim to reduce the risk of gambling harm in the ACT.
The changes are part of a coordinated gambling harm reduction approach which aims to strengthen protections for people who are at risk of, or are already experiencing, gambling harm.
About the reforms
A package of gambling reforms is being introduced to help reduce gambling-related harm and support the future sustainability of ACT clubs.
The reforms will be implemented through legislative and regulatory amendments and new governance arrangements.
The Gambling and Racing (Gambling Exclusion) Amendment Bill 2026 will help people self-exclude from gambling if they want to take a break. It will also strengthen gambling harm protections in venues.
The Gambling and Racing (Gambling Exclusion) Amendment Bill 2026 will make it easier for people to choose to take a break from gambling.
The bill will introduce a new self-exclusion scheme with clearer and easier processes.
Currently, if you would like to exclude yourself from gambling you need to:
- enter into a self-exclusion deed
- sign the deed on a printed form
- have your signing of the deed witnessed by another person
- provide a photocopy or picture of your photo ID
- provide a current photo of yourself for venues to identify you.
The new scheme will simplify the process by making the form digital and allowing the entire process to be completed online. You will still be able to choose the clubs and venues you would like to self-exclude from.
You will be able to choose to self-exclude for any period between 6 months and 5 years. Previously you could only choose up to 3 years. This will provide the option to self-exclude for a longer period if you want to take a longer break.
The ACT Gambling and Racing Commission will centrally manage all gambling exclusion arrangements. This will help make sure that exclusions are applied consistently across venues.
These changes will happen 6 months after the bill passes in the Legislative Assembly.
The Gambling and Racing (Gambling Exclusion) Amendment Bill 2026 will also strengthen the obligations of venues to identify and respond to gambling harm risk.
Gambling venues will have clearer responsibilities to support people who may be at risk of gambling harm. This includes:
- supporting people who have self-excluded by preventing them from gambling
- identifying when there is a risk of gambling harm to someone and taking supportive action
- connecting people who may be at risk of gambling harm with support services.
The bill replaces the term 'problem gambling' with 'at risk of gambling harm'. This new definition is based on recognised signs and behaviours that indicate a person is at risk of experiencing harm from gambling.
The new definition, including the signs and behaviours that may indicate gambling harm, will help venues to better identify and respond to risks of gambling harm. It also reflects a more respectful and evidence-based approach that focuses on:
- preventing gambling harm
- reducing stigma around experiencing gambling harm
- improving access to help or support.
These changes acknowledge that gambling products and activities create the risk of harm, rather than placing blame on the individual experiencing harm.
These changes will happen 6 months after the bill passes in the Legislative Assembly.
The Gaming Machine (Harm Prevention and Reduction) Amendment Bill 2026 will be introduced in October 2026 and will:
- introduce mandatory account-based cashless gaming
- ban EFTPOS and ATM withdrawals in venues with gaming machines
- progressively reduce the number of electronic gaming machines in the ACT.
The Gaming Machine (Harm Prevention and Reduction) Amendment Bill 2026 will introduce a framework for mandatory account-based cashless gaming in venues with electronic gaming machines.
Account-based gaming will mean you must use a registered account to gamble on electronic gaming machines. You will not be able to gamble anonymously with cash.
Before you can use an electronic gaming machine (poker machine) in the ACT, you will need to:
- set up an account with a venue to receive a player account card, which will include showing a form of identification
- load your account card with funds
- set a maximum loss limit on your account card.
Your account will track how much you have spent and lost on poker machines within a venue. This will provide you with a clearer picture of your gambling losses.
Clubs will also need to enforce a 15 minute break in play after every hour of continuous poker machine play. The new mandatory break in play every hour will prevent long periods of continuous gambling which can be harmful.
Account-based gaming will commence 12 months after the bill passes in the Legislative Assembly.
New legislation will also ban EFTPOS cash withdrawals and ban ATMs in venues with electronic gaming machines.
The Gaming Machine (Harm Prevention and Reduction) Amendment Bill 2026 will ban ATMs at venues. Once the bill passes there will be a 12-month delay to allow time for venues with electronic gaming machines to remove ATMs.
The Gaming Machine Amendment Regulation 2026 will ban EFTPOS cash withdrawals from these venues. This regulation will be notified in October 2026 and commence 6 weeks after it is notified.
Banning EFTPOS and ATM withdrawals will reduce opportunities to access more cash during gambling sessions. This will contribute to reduced intensity of gambling and risk of significant losses.
The Gaming Machine (Harm Prevention and Reduction) Amendment Bill 2026 will also continue to reduce the number of electronic gaming machines in the ACT.
For clubs to operate a gaming machine on their premises, they need to have an authorisation for it. A gradual reduction scheme aims to achieve a target of no more than 1,000 gaming machine authorisations across the Territory by 2045.
This bill will legislate a requirement that every 4 years there must be a reduction of at least 500 gaming machine authorisations in the ACT, until the target of 1,000 is reached.
Reducing access to gaming machines aims to improve community wellbeing by limiting gambling harm. Evidence from the 2024 ACT Gambling Survey showed that electronic gaming machines were associated with the highest level of gambling harm in the Territory. They accounted for one-third of the total burden of gambling harm.
There is also one regulation, the Gaming and Racing Control (Code of Practice) Amendment Regulation 2026. This regulation will reduce operating hours for poker machines.
The Gaming and Racing Control (Code of Practice) Amendment Regulation 2026 will introduce longer shutdown periods for electronic gaming machines. During these times, venues will not be able to operate electronic gaming machines.
The new shutdown periods will be:
- Monday to Thursday: 2am to 10am
- Friday: 2am to 9am
- Saturday: 4am to 9am
- Sunday: 4am to 10am
The new shutdown periods reduce the hours that poker machines can operate on weekdays. The operating times for Friday and Saturday nights will stay the same.
The new shutdown periods will come into effect on 1 July 2027. This is to allow clubs with poker machines time to prepare for changes in operating hours.
The new shutdown periods will:
- reduce the availability of poker machines late at night, when the risk of gambling harm may be higher
- provide extended breaks in electronic gaming machine use.
Why it's important
Gambling harm can cause financial harm, and psychological, emotional and social harm. This harm not only affects those who gamble, but also people around them and the broader community.
The impacts of gambling harm can include:
- relationship and family breakdown
- financial stress
- emotional and psychological suffering.
The changes to gambling laws are designed to:
- make it easier for people to access support
- create a more effective system for preventing and reducing gambling harm in the ACT.
Next steps
The Gaming and Racing Control (Code of Practice) Amendment Regulation 2026 was signed on 15 September 2026.
Clubs with poker machines will need time to prepare for the reduction in gaming machine operating hours. The regulation will not take effect until 1 July 2027.
The Gambling and Racing (Gambling Exclusion) Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced in the ACT Legislative Assembly on 16 September 2026.
The Gambling and Racing (Gambling Exclusion) Amendment Bill will become law after:
- it passes in the Legislative Assembly
- the Act is notified on the ACT Legislation Register
- the Act commences.
Licensees and government both need to make changes to prepare for the new laws. Is it expected that there will be a 6-month delay between when the Legislation Register notifies the Act, and when the new gambling exclusion scheme commences.
Current deeds of exclusion will continue to have effect throughout these changes.
The Gaming Machine (Harm Prevention and Reduction) Amendment Bill 2026 will be introduced in October 2026.
It will become law after:
- the bill passes in the Legislative Assembly
- the Act is notified on the ACT Legislation Register
- the Act commences.
There will be a delay of 12 months between when the Act is notified on the Legislation Register and when it commences.
Supporting clubs in the ACT to reduce reliance on gambling income
Reforms to reduce gambling harm will mean clubs will need to adapt to the changes. The ACT Government aims to support the long-term sustainability of the club sector as clubs diversify their sources of income away from gambling revenue.
The Independent Inquiry into the Future of the ACT Club Industry identified ways clubs can:
- reduce their reliance on gambling revenue
- build more sustainable sources of income over the next 20 years.
The final report of the inquiry recommended a pathway to support the long-term transition of the club sector. Key recommendations include:
- options to support club diversification and redevelopment opportunities
- strategies to reduce reliance on gambling revenue alongside implementation of gambling harm reduction measures
- tailored pathways that recognise different clubs face different challenges and opportunities.
In response to the Inquiry, the ACT Government will establish a Joint Clubs Transition Governance Group to support ongoing collaboration between government, clubs and stakeholders. The group will:
- develop a joint statement of intent, setting out a shared commitment to working together to support the future sustainability of the club sector
- provide advice to support the implementation of the inquiry recommendations.
An internal ACT Government steering committee will also be established. The committee will:
- coordinate consideration of the inquiry's recommendations
- provide advice on regulatory reforms and support measures.
Together, these arrangements aim to support a collaborative transition that supports community club sustainability and reduced gambling harm.