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The Allan Labor Government is taking its first steps in implementing reforms that will protect Victorians against gambling harm.
Melissa Horne, Minister of Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, introduced the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill to the Parliament. This bill will enforce mandatory closing periods for all gaming machines in venues other than the casino, between 4am and 10am every morning.
The evidence presented here shows that some gambling venues have a staggering of their opening hours in order to encourage customers to gamble at nearby casinos after one venue closes.
A break between games is a key measure to prevent gambling harm. It gives players a chance stop, think about their decisions and decide if they’re willing to lose money. The closures are expected to be mandatory by the middle of 2024.
The bill will also give the Minister more power to control betting, by extending the ban on harmful betting for activities outside Victoria like sports played by minors.
The Government acted quickly to implement 33 of the Commission’s recommendations in response to the shocking behaviour revealed by the Royal Commission on Casino Operator and Licence.
The Bill builds upon this work, making it easier and more clear for the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) to deal with casino properties if they decide to refuse to grant a casino license. The bill also ensures that the pre-commitment system and carded playing systems are implemented across the casino including at the table games.
YourPlay, the pre-commitment tracking system, will be mandatory for all casino players starting in December 2023. This must be implemented by December 2025 on table games such as poker and baccarat.
The Bill is a follow-up to the Government’s July 2023 commitment to introduce reforms that would provide Victorians the strongest protections against gambling harms in the nation.
The reform package includes pre-commitment and carded playing for all electronic gaming devices, $100 load up caps and a slowing down of spin rates in order to reduce the speed of games. As part of a working group for implementation, the Government will consult industry representatives.
Melissa Horne, the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, stated: “Our reforms delivered stronger oversight to the gambling industry in Victoria, with a regulator who is not afraid to hold venues accountable. Now, we are doing more to prevent and reduce harm related to gambling.
We’ve seen predatory behavior from some venues that allow people to gamble for hours at a time, no matter what the hour. Closing the gaming area between 4am and 10am will allow people to take a break and reassess their situation.
