The Victorian state government has announced a raft of new electronic gaming machine reforms, including mandatory pre-commitment and limiting the amount that can be loaded into a machine at any one time to just AU$100 (US$68).
According to information unveiled on Sunday, the reforms are aimed at protecting Victorians from gambling harm while preventing money laundering activity across the state, with the government describing its gambling harm protections as “the strongest in Australia”.
Under the changes, all EGMs in Victoria will require mandatory pre-commitment limits and carded play, spin rates will be slowed to a rate of three seconds per spin, and load-up limits will be capped at AU$100, down from the current limit of AU$1,000 (US$680).
The load-up limit is ever stricter than recent reforms announced in New South Wales, which will limit the amount that can be loaded into machines at any one time to AU$500 (US$342), down from AU$5,000 (US$3,420).
The Victorian government has also announced that mandatory closure periods from 4am to 10am will be enforced for all gaming machine areas in venues by mid-2024, although Crown Melbourne will be exempted.
“These reforms will provide the strongest gambling harm preventions and anti-money laundering measures in Australia – we owe it to all Victorians to take this stance and help those experiencing harm turn their lives around,” said Premier Daniel Andrews.
“I look forward to the implementation working group’s input and effort.”
The government added that it has included AU$71 million (US$48.5 million) in this year’s budget for the Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Committee to take on a larger role in gambling harm minimization, taking over most of the functions of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation as of 1 July 2024.
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