The state of Victoria passed a new gambling reform bill called the Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024. Approved on May 27 by the state’s Parliament, the bill will see electronic gaming machines make significant changes to customer access.
This comes at a very relevant time, as gambling within Australia has become immensely popular. Whether it is using machines at land-based establishments or turning to online resources, the public has been very enthusiastic. As an article by gambling expert Blaise Bourgeois tells us, many Aussies are excited to play poker with AUD and, hopefully, multiply their holdings. But as this happens, the government is committed to giving them more control over their experience and streamlining industry practices.
Moving forward, those who want to access these gaming machines will have to register and use personal cards to do so. This will allow them to see their activity at a glance and allow for better reporting of figures on the part of operators. Those who use online platforms already have a comprehensive view of their activities at a glance, but now, common physical machines are getting the same treatment.
And while this is good news for both regulators and consumers, the trial run for this pre-commitment system has been postponed. The initial plan was to have it run from May to June 2025, but now, it is back to the drawing board. After consultations with industry stakeholders, there will be a new timeline for testing the system and reporting on the results. The end goal is to offer all players in this ecosystem a better experience.
According to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), this will also enable the development of a framework in other regions, as well as determine the best technology to facilitate the rollout of this system across the country.
“Further ministerial directions and supporting regulations will be developed for consideration along with consultation with industry and stakeholders on timelines for the future implementation of the trial before it commences,” said the VGCCC.
It’s not just customer registration that has been touched on in the new bill. On top of this, all gaming machines will be required to run at a 3-second-per-game minimum spin rate of 3 seconds per game, starting this December. This would represent a 40% decline from the current minimum spin rate of 2.14 seconds per game.
It’s been reiterated that these laws are for the betterment of the industry as a whole while also staying in line with changing consumer demands and the regulatory landscape within Victoria. If this is successful, we could see this expanding to other places and the benefits being felt far and wide.
This is especially important given that, according to the current stats, gambling in Australia and around the world will not decline anytime soon. As such, regulators will have to remain on their toes to ensure the best experience for consumers and make sure everything is done by the book.
