Crown Melbourne Backs Recent Victorian Gambling Reforms
Crown Melbourne has recently expressed its support for the gambling reforms on pokies, highlighting a deeper focus on the wellbeing of the average punter.
Key Takeaways
- Victoria’s new pokies laws include mandatory player cards, lower cash load limits, and slower spin rates to address gambling harm and money laundering.
- Crown Melbourne CEO Mike Volkert supports the reforms, citing the success of Crown's carded play system with over 400,000 registrations since 2023.
- The reforms are part of a phased approach, with mandatory carded play statewide by 2025.
Victoria’s New Pokies Regulations
The Victorian government has introduced sweeping changes to pokies regulations aimed at reducing gambling-related harm and preventing money laundering.
Key measures include:
- Mandatory player cards requiring pre-set spending limits.
- Lower cash load limits, reducing the maximum amount from $1,000 to $100.
- Slower game spin rates, extending the minimum time per spin from 2.14 to 3 seconds.
These changes promote responsible gambling while giving players more control over their spending. A trial for mandatory carded play is set to launch in mid-2025, with a statewide rollout to follow.
Crown Melbourne’s Commitment to Responsible Gambling
Mike Volkert, CEO of Crown Melbourne, has publicly endorsed these reforms. Volkert emphasised:
The success of Crown’s carded play system, which has seen over 400,000 player registrations since its launch in December 2023 and the importance of aligning with government initiatives to foster a safer gambling environment.
Crown’s backing represents a significant industry shift toward supporting mandatory player protection measures.
Addressing Gambling Harm in Victoria
Victoria’s pokies regulations are designed to combat the staggering statistics associated with gambling-related harm. According to government data, around 30% of Victorians who use pokies experience harm.
Gaming Minister Melissa Horne stated the new laws aim to “save lives and livelihoods by giving control back to patrons.” The reforms also address concerns about money laundering, ensuring stricter oversight of cash transactions. More to come.
Olivia is an experienced journalist passionate about keeping our readers up to date with the latest in casino and iGaming news.
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