Melissa Horne, Victoria's minister for casino, gaming and liquor regulation, has introduced the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 to the state parliament. If the reforms are approved, a curfew will be implemented across most electronic gaming machine venues in Victoria starting mid-2024. This curfew will prevent patrons in hotels and bars from accessing gaming areas between 4am and 10am, allowing only casinos to operate during these hours. The government aims to eliminate the practice of staggered opening hours that some venues use to encourage customers to move between locations to continue gambling.
Additional reforms include mandatory pre-commitment limits and carded play for all poker machines, capping load-up limits at AU$100 and reducing spin speeds to slow game pace. The government plans to work with industry representatives to effectively implement these measures.
These reforms follow the Crown Resorts scandal, which led to a Royal Commission inquiry that produced 33 recommendations, resulting from a finding that the operator was 'unsuitable' to hold a casino licence in Victoria. Horne stated, 'Our previous reforms have delivered stronger oversight of the gambling industry in Victoria with a regulator unafraid to hold venues to account – now we’re doing more important work to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm.' She added that the gaming curfew would allow individuals to take a necessary break from gambling activities.
The bill further seeks to enhance the gambling minister's authority to restrict betting on activities deemed harmful, such as sporting events involving minors. It also includes measures to empower the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission to manage issues with casinos that lose their licenses.
