Pokies Reform Bill Advances in Victoria

_{Victoria’s Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill moves forward, introducing mandatory carded play. (Image: OZSHOTZ / Alamy)}

The Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024, aimed at implementing mandatory pre-commitment for electronic gaming machines such as slots in Victoria, has passed the Legislative Assembly with a resounding vote of 53–25 and is now in the Legislative Council for further consideration.

In her second reading speech, Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Melissa Horne said the proposed legislation gives the government the power to set requirements for carded play on gaming machines in hotels and clubs.

The minister said: “Carded play is a relatively simple concept – it means that a player card must be inserted into an electronic gaming machine for it to operate."

Key aspects of the bill include:

• The introduction of mandatory carded play, which requires players to insert a card into gaming machines to operate, allowing for better oversight of spending.
• A three-month trial of carded play is scheduled for mid-2025 at approximately 40 venues before broader implementation.
• New spin rate limits for machines will be set, slowing gameplay to mitigate losses.

Reforms Garner Support and Opposition from MPs

Gippsland South MP Danny O’Brien said: “The government is basically giving itself a head of power to introduce these reforms rather than giving Parliament the opportunity to understand exactly what it is going to do and in what timeframe it is going to do it."

“I acknowledge the timeframe is listed in the second reading speech, but we are already somewhat behind that timeframe given that the bill was introduced in November” added O’Brien.

The opposition proposed an amendment to halt the bill pending further evidence of its effectiveness in reducing gambling harm, but this was voted down. The bill will now be debated in the Upper House.

Eureka MP Michaela spoke about the impact gambling has on her family. She said: “My ex-husband grapples with a mental health condition which drives him again and again to gambling.

“If there are any reforms that we can make, then I support them wholly.”

Reforms Among the Strongest Gambling Harm Prevention Laws in Australia

Narre Warren South MP Gary Maas suggested that these reforms were “the strongest gambling harm prevention laws in Australia.”

He said: “From 1 December 2025, mandatory carded play will commence using the state government’s existing YourPlay framework, and the amount of money people can load onto a machine at any time will be reduced to $100, down from $1,000, helping reduce the amount that can be lost.

“The pre-commitment card allows players to set voluntary limits that help prevent financial harm before it occurs and help people game responsibly.”

Greens Welcome Efforts to Reduce Gambling Harms

The Greens welcomed the reforms and the efforts to reduce gambling harms. Brunswick MP Tim Read said:

“I would like to acknowledge the government’s reforms that have been introduced already, such as uniform closing times for poker machine venues as well as reform of Crown and the new regulator, which has substantive powers and is now investigating the industry and issuing fines for breaches.

“We also support that this bill has a provision that will lower spin rates of poker machines from the current 2.3 seconds to 3 seconds per spin.”