The ACT Government and ClubsACT today signed an inaugural Memorandum of Understanding that sets out the policy and reform agenda for the licensed club sector for the next four years.

ACT Minister for Gaming and Racing Joy Burch joined ClubsACT Preisdent Max Mercer at Eastlake Football Club to sign the MoU, which details key commitments agreed to between the ACT Government and ClubsACT in areas such as gaming reform, regulatory reform, problem gambling and harm minimisation, and reducing clubs' reliance on gaming.

"More than 200,000 Canberrans are members of one or more club and there are more than 500,000 club memberships in circulation, so it is important that the ACT Government work with the sector during this period of significant reform," Ms Burch said.

"The Government and the clubs sector commit in this document to work together to do more to address problem gambling and diversify their revenue base away from gaming, but to do so in a way that does not jeopardise the viability of community clubs."

The MoU recognises the value clubs represent to the wider Canberra community and acknowledges that by securing the long-term financial viability of clubs, the contribution clubs make to the economic and social wellbeing of Canberra will continue.

Commitments contained in the MoU include:

-         The ACT Government will consider options to encourage clubs to maintain specific community contributions above the 8 per cent required by law, and members of ClubsACT agree to maintain contribution levels additional to the required 8 per cent so long as economic circumstances permit.

-         ClubsACT will start a mentoring program to enhance the role of women in the club industry.

-         ClubsACT and the ACT Government to work together to enhance and support effective counselling services in the ACT and contribute to the development and distribution of effective and appropriate problem gambling awareness material.

-         ClubsACT agrees to work with the ACT Government to continue to reduce clubs' reliance on poker machine revenue and further diversify their income.

-         The ACT Government agrees in principle to the introduction of a scheme that allows transfer of Electronic Gaming Machines between clubs in the ACT.