Following Ray Finkelstein’s recommendations,the casino was told it must introduce mandatory precommitment cards for its 2628 poker machines,forcing patrons to set binding limits on losses,by the end of this year.
The Andrews government is expanding strict pokies rules from Crown casino to all Victorian venues.Flavio Brancaleone
Yet Victoria’s pubs,clubs and RSL venues operating the other 26,380 poker machines in the state have so far been subject to a voluntary system known as YourPlay – a light-touch approach under which gamblers are given the option of inserting a card into the poker machine,inviting them to set non-binding loss limits,which they are free to ignore.
Unsurprisingly,there is little evidence to suggest it has been successful.
The obvious concern with this two-tiered system was that it would merely push problem gamblers and money launderers out of Crown and into pubs and clubs,leaving authorities to tackle money laundering and problem gambling with one hand tied behind their backs.
Clearly,the situation was untenable. Gambling harm in pubs and clubs has bounced back from the pandemic to reach crisis proportions,with total losses last financial year expected to hit $3 billion for the first time.
Given the extraordinary social and financial harm being inflicted,particularly on Melbourne’s fringes,it was a problem the government apparently could no longer ignore,after months of brushing the issue to one side.
The reforms announced by the premier on Sunday – including mandatory precommitment cards,slowing the rate at which people can spend their money in machines and enforcing closing times for venues – could go a long way,provided they are well implemented.
Ultimately,the government’s actions must be judged on when and if the reforms result in a tangible reduction in gambling losses.
By extension,if the government is serious,it must also be prepared to stomach a significant loss of tax revenue from poker machines.
So far,the details are sketchy. On Sunday,the government suggested the complexity of the reforms mean the measures could take some time,pointing out they will be “subject to thorough consultation with industry” through an implementation working group,which will presumably involve the gambling industry.
The lack of detail,and the lack of a timeline for the introduction of the reforms,has already led to some cynicism from gambling harm experts,particularly considering the historically cosy relationship between the Andrews government and the powerful clubs lobby.
Whether the reforms will place Victoria at the forefront of the nation’s – and possibly the world’s – fight against problem gambling is also debatable.
As Monash University gambling expert Charles Livingstone points out,Tasmania,for example,has already announced mandatory precommitment rules that will apply from the end of next year. Unlike Victoria,it will also introduce maximum losses of $100 a day,or $500 a month.
Norway,Livingstone says,has had a more comprehensive system in place for more than a decade,while Sweden is implementing such a system this year.
Bearing these caveats in mind,the government should still be commended for taking what is – hopefully – an important step in dealing with Victoria’s soaring gambling losses.
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