Victoria’s EGM Trial, Harshly Criticized Over Limits

Victorian councils are not happy with the effects of the voluntary EGM loss-limit trial, claiming it failed to reach its initial goals and continued to leave players at gambling risk Image Source: Shutterstock.com

Victoria’s new trial for electronic gaming machineshas sparked criticism from local councils, who say the government has missed an opportunity to reduce gambling harm. 

Voluntary VS Mandatory

The three-month YourPlay card pilot, currently running in 43 venues across Monash, Greater Dandenong, and Ballarat, allows players to track their spending on poker machines. However, unlike initial reports, the trial makes setting loss limits voluntaryrather than mandatory.

Mayor Paul Klisaris of Monashsaid the change blindsided him and his council. “We are disappointed the Victorian Government did not include mandatory and binding loss limits in their trial, and we do not support it given this omission,” he said. 

With a $126 million loss recorded onits 955 machines from 2024 onward, the Monash council is ranked third in the Australian state. 

“These machines prey on people and cause harm. We haven’t been consulted. We’re at the coalface,” the mayor went on.

Ballarat Mayor Tracey Hargreaves echoed the frustration while remaining cautiously supportive of the trial, calling it “a missed opportunity to gather meaningful early insights into the potential harm-prevention benefits of mandatory carded play”. 

Ballarat has 652 machines, the second-highest number in regional Victoria. Meanwhile, Greater Dandenong’s council has opted to continue supporting the pilot despite concerns over voluntary limits. 

Mayor Jim Memeti said the decision would help them influence the trial’s outcomes. “This is an average loss of $387,000 each day, and equivalent to $1,077 per adult,” he said of the municipality’s 928 machines.

The Pilot, Considered “a Sham”

Reverend Tim Costellofrom the Alliance for Gambling Reformcriticized the pilot as a “sham,” pointing out that similar carded play technology with mandatory limits already exists at Crown Melbourne. 

At Crown, players are automatically locked out of 2,628 machines once they hit their self-imposed caps, and nearly 99%of sessions end within those limits. A Crown spokesperson said the system empowers players to make informed choices and allows early interventions to reduce harm.

Premier Jacinta Allan, however,  defended the trial, further emphasizing plans to introduce automated carded play across the state this current year, with free cards for players, and the necessary implementation support for all venues. 

Despite these measures, gambling losses remain high, and the state is forecast to earn $2.7 billion from gambling taxesthis financial year, continuing a long-term growth trend. The pilot will run until November, offering a limited test of a system many hope could be more effective if applied broadly and enforceably.