The Victorian government will use the final sitting week of the year to introduce to parliament long-awaited gambling reforms, which will slash the maximum amount punters can put into poker machines at a time from $1,000 to $100.
The gaming minister, Melissa Horne, will on Tuesday introduce the gambling legislation amendment (precommitment and carded play) bill 2024 to parliament, about 16 months after the former premier Daniel Andrews announced the changes.
At the time he described them as “the strongest gambling harm preventions and anti-money laundering measures in Australia”.
The bill will create the framework for carded play, which requires punters to insert a player card to operate a poker machine.
Punters must also set limits on how much they are willing to lose. The default limit – which could then be changed by a gambler under the precommitment scheme – will be set at $50, which the Labor government struck with the Greens earlier this year.
The amount a person can put into a gambling machine at a time – known as a load-up limit – will also be set at $100, down from the current limit of $1,000.
In New South Wales, there is a load-up limit of $500, down from $5,000. The state has also committed to transitioning to mandatory carded play but not until 31 December 2028.
In Victoria, the rollout of carded play will begin in mid-2025, via a pilot program at about 40 venues. A “phased approach” to implementation” will begin in 2026, before cared play will become mandatory in 2027.
Horne said a trial was necessary to evaluate the technology.
“We’ve got more than 500 different venues across the state, and the technology varies from machine to machine. We’re making sure that we get that technology piece right so that it’s easy for people to sign up to,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
Crown Melbourne has already transitioned to mandated carded play, as part of legislation that passed parliament after a royal commission into the casino, which in 2021 found it had engaged in “illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative” conduct.
A special manager was appointed to oversee operations for two years and in March, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) allowed the company to retain its licence.
Another bill, which came into effect in September, also mandated the closure of gaming areas in pubs and clubs between the hours of 4am and 10am, excluding Crown.
Under the latest bill, any new pokies machines approved by the VGCCC after 1 December 2025 will be required to have a spin rate of at least three seconds a game – slowing games down by 40% and, in turn, limiting the amount of money that can be lost.
Horne has previously described the changes as the “strongest suite of reforms that will comprehensively change the way gambling is conducted in this state”.
On Tuesday, she said $3bn was lost by Victorians every year through poker machines.
“But at the same time, we’ve got less than 10% of the population playing poker machines. This is less people than ever before but they’re losing more than ever before, and where people are losing the most money is in our lowest socioeconomic areas,” Horne said.
“So there’s something wrong.”
Gambling reform advocate, Tim Costello, welcomed Victoria’s decision to forge ahead, as Tasmania delays its reforms and the federal government stalls on proposed caps gambling ads.
“I’m glad to see some progress. Mandatory carded play is the long overdue reform that was recommended by the productivity commission in both 1999 and 2010 – but it has always been defeated by the power of the predatory pokies industry,” he said.
In Australia, Gambling Help Online is available on 1800 858 858. The National Debt Helpline is at 1800 007 007. In the UK, support for problem gambling can be found via the NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic on 020 7381 7722, or GamCare on 0808 8020 133. In the US, call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 800-GAMBLER or text 800GAM.
