Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria, and Melissa Horne, Minister for Casino, Gaming, and Liquor Regulation, have taken a significant move to address the dangers connected with electronic gaming machines, colloquially known as “pokies.” A comprehensive set of responsible gambling and anti-money laundering rules targeted at mitigating the detrimental effects of these machines in retail and land-based venues has been announced.
The comprehensive reforms include five major elements aimed at promoting responsible gambling and combating money laundering in the gaming industry. Among the government’s initiatives are:
1. Mandatory Pre-Commitment restrictions: If the bill is passed, all electronic gambling machines in the state will be forced to have mandatory pre-commitment restrictions. Before beginning play, players will be prompted to set a predefined amount they are willing to wager, promoting greater knowledge of potential losses.
2. Identification Verification via Carded Play: With the introduction of carded play, a player’s identification will be linked to all of their gambling actions, allowing for improved tracking of gaming behavior and recognizing possible symptoms of gambling-related harm.
3. Reduced put-Up Limit: The government intends to reduce the maximum amount a player can put into an Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) at one time from AU$1,000 to AU$100. This action is intended to curb excessive expenditure and potential losses for players.
4. Venue Curfews from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m.: In response to concerns over staggered opening hours, which may encourage continuous gambling, the government will impose a required shutdown period for all EGMs in venues between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. This proposal will go into effect in mid-2024 and will not apply to casinos.
5. Spin Speed Reduction: To slow down the fast speed of play, all new Electronic Gaming Machines will be required to spin for three seconds per game. This measure aims to promote more measured and responsible gaming.
Premier Daniel Andrews emphasized that these reforms will set a new standard in Australia for gambling harm prevention and anti-money laundering efforts. The government’s unrelenting commitment to protecting Victorians’ well-being and providing assistance to individuals experiencing gambling-related harm is at the heart of these transformative initiatives.
While the government is keen to execute the reforms, it understands the significance of consulting with the gaming industry and forming an implementation working group. The lessons learned from trials of comparable limitations in other jurisdictions, along with Crown Melbourne’s experience, will determine the effective execution of these efforts, which will involve both mandatory pre-commitment and carded play by the end of 2023.
The post Victoria Releases Groundbreaking Gambling Reforms to Tackle Electronic Gaming Machine Harms appeared first on iGaming.org.