The state government has announced new changes to be made to poker machine regulation, declaring the reforms will make a significant difference in reducing gambling harm in the state.
The changes include mandatory venue closures for every pub and club’s gambling area from 4am to 10am, the introduction of carded play with mandatory pre-commitment of what people are prepared to loose, a limit on loading, no more than $100 at a time and reducing to three seconds the spin rates on new machines among other reforms to education, training and counselling services.
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said Victorians have waited a very long time for meaningful and significant reforms such as this.
“We still need to see all of the details, but this will go a long way towards minimising gambling harm in our community as well as reducing the huge amounts of dirty money being laundered through poker machines,” he said.
Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong councils have welcomed the changes.
Maribyrnong mayor Sarah Carter said the reforms are welcome but there is more to be done, which is highlighted in council’s gambling policy.
“We know that gambling is a significant problem in Maribyrnong and more action needs to be taken,” she said.
“In the last year EGM lost $1.2 million each week in our municipality.”
In the past Hobsons Bay councillor Matt Tyler has openly shared his personal story with gambling harms.
“It’s a significant set of proposed reforms and really welcomed,” he said.
“So many families have been devastated by gambling, including my own.”
According to council, Hobsons Bay has the third highest level of Electronic gaming machines (EGM’s) per capita in metro Melbourne.
“We as a council unanimously supported advocating for the roll-out of mandatory pre-commitment in 2022, this has now been committed to by the state government,” council said.
