Australia’s Victoria passes gambling reform bill, delays trial of carded play system

Victoria has passed legislation introducing a mandatory pre-commitment system for electronic gaming machines, but a planned trial of the new carded play system has been postponed, the state government said.

The Gambling Legislation Amendment (Pre-commitment and Carded Play) Bill 2024 was passed by the Victorian Parliament on May 27. The law lays the groundwork for a carded play system requiring players to register and use a personal card to access gaming machines, enabling them to view gambling activity and set personal limits on time and money spent.

However, the Victorian government announced that the trial of the system, originally scheduled for May to June 2025, will be delayed. A revised timeline will be developed following further consultation with stakeholders and the release of additional regulatory guidance.

“Almost 30% of Victorians who play gaming machines experience gambling harm,” said Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne. “These laws will save lives and livelihoods by giving control back to patrons.”

“Gambling harm has consequences, not just for the person gambling but for everyone around them,” she added. "These reforms provide important protections for people using gaming machines and for their loved ones.”

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) said the postponement will allow for an evaluation of best practices in other jurisdictions and an exploration of technology-neutral solutions to support the rollout.

“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,” the VGCCC said in a statement.

Additional reforms under the bill will require that, from December 2025, all newly approved gaming machines operate at a minimum spin rate of three seconds per game — a 40% reduction in speed from the current 2.14 seconds.

The government said it remains committed to implementing harm minimisation measures while maintaining flexibility to adapt the framework to Victoria’s regulatory environment.