Australia has detailed technical laws and regulations governing EGMs (Electronic Gaming Machines), and manufacturers must meet this criteria before a machine is approved for use in Australia.
This means that any game introduced to the Australian market needs to be thoroughly tested by a government-appointed and independent accredited testing facility (ATF), before approval is sought from the respective independent State or Territory Regulator. This process can take a minimum twelve months.
These accredited testing facilities employ highly-skilled, independent engineers, mathematicians, and other technical specialists, to assess gaming equipment against approved technical requirements.
Much of this regulatory and compliance work is conducted by State and Territory Governments, using an Australia- New Zealand National Standard.
At the conclusion of this process, a test report and recommendations are delivered to regulatory decision-makers who will determine if a machine is approved (or not).
If a poker machine is not approved, it will not be allowed to operate in a venue.
Indeed, ATFs are also subject to regular reviews, with quality of testing and reporting output constantly scrutinised.
In some parts of Australia, ATFs are also licensed under gaming legislation and undergo comprehensive probity checks that include any associated entities.
This stringent legislation makes Australia’s gaming machine sector one of the most highly regulated industries in Australia.