A bill that would mandate the introduction of mandatory carded play across all gaming venues in Victoria will be debated by the state’s parliament this week.
According to a report by ABC News, this comes with a trial of the technology set to take place in 40 venues in the coming months amid pressure to fast-track the implementation of carded play. The bill was first introduced to parliament last November.
The goal, according to the government, is to roll out mandatory cared play across all pubs and clubs – which operate a combined 26,000 poker machines – by the end of 2027, bringing them in line with the state’s only casino, Crown Melbourne. Crown, which told ABC News it has more than 500,000 people now signed up for carded use, introduced mandatory carded play late last year.
The scheme “provides guardrails for guests to stay in control of their gaming,” Crown told the media outlet in response to its inquiries. We know it works. We’ve implemented it seamlessly and effectively in Crown Melbourne. It’s an important part of Crown’s ongoing commitment to safer play.”
The looming Victorian trial comes with concerns over the validity of a similar trial run in NSW last year, with industry lobbyists claiming the trial enjoyed only minimal adoption by players and that subsequent findings were not evidence based.
Nevertheless, one of Australia’s most noted anti-gambling crusaders, Tim Costello, appears to have changed his tune on Crown since it implemented mandatory carded play, stating, “The truth is that they are now the most responsible gambling provider in our city. The carded play was a game changer.
“Their social license, I think, is intact.”
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