1/15/2001 Smart Card Technology to Control Losses of Gambling Addicts Rejected because of moratorium
The Australia Sun Herald recently reported that a Victoria-based company, REGIS, which developed smart card technology to curb the losses of gambling addicts has been snubbed by the State Government. REGIS Controls has created electronic gaming cards for online casino and poker-machine users, that allow players to set monthly limits to stem their losses. REGIS managing director Elik Szewach, who helped develop the Responsible Electronic Gaming via Internet System, said that the system prevented children from gambling online but ensured user details such as age remained confidential. According to Szewach, the smart card received strong support from the Federal Government and state government representatives. Although Gaming Minister John Pandazopoulos expressed his support for the scheme, Szewach said the government had failed to meet him to discuss the technology. When asked for comment, a spokeswoman for Pandazopoulos, Jacinta Reddan, said the government was unable to implement changes because of the Federal Government's 12-month Internet gambling moratorium.
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