Reform buttons slapped in bid to quash gambling harms

The highest amount Victorian punters can put into poker machines at one time will be slashed from $1000 to $100 under major gambling reforms. Gaming Minister Melissa Horne will introduce the gambling legislation amendment to state parliament on Tuesday, almost 18 months after then-premier Daniel Andrews previewed the changes. The proposed reforms will include the introduction of carded play on pokies, which will require patrons to insert a player card to operate a gaming machine, mandatory closing times at venues and slower spin rates for new pokies. The cards will give people access to information about their gambling and allow set limits on how much they are willing to lose. A pilot of the carded play will start in mid-2025 in selected venues across Victoria. Under the reforms, any new gaming machines approved after December 2025 must have a spin rate of at least three seconds per game, compared to the current spin rate of 2.14 seconds. From the same month, the amount of money people can load onto a machine at any time will be reduced to $100, down from $1000. Mandatory closure periods from 4am to 10am for gaming areas in all Victorian hotels and clubs come into effect from August 30, 2025. Ms Horne said the reforms were aimed at stopping the far-reaching impact of problem gambling. "Almost 30 per cent of Victorians who play gaming machines experience gambling harm," she said. "Gambling harm has consequences, not just for the person gambling but for everyone around them." Some of Victoria's reforms were initially expected to be implemented by mid-2024 when first announced by Mr Andrews 12 months earlier. Tasmania was slated to implement similar cashless gaming card reforms before saying it would prefer to work with other states to come up with a pre-commitment solution earlier in November. Independent MP Kristie Johnson questioned Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff's decision to scrap plans for the card due to the findings of several reports which had yet to be publicly released. "The Deloitte report says the economic impact of the card is minimal on pubs and clubs but the economic impact on communities is significant when you think where that money could be spent elsewhere," she told ABC Radio on Tuesday. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858