Victoria’s EGM Trial, Harshly Criticised Over Limits

Summary

Victoria’s YourPlay card pilot — a three-month electronic gaming machine (EGM) trial running in 43 venues across Monash, Greater Dandenong and Ballarat — lets players track spending but makes setting loss limits voluntary rather than mandatory. Local mayors and gambling-harm advocates say the voluntary approach undermines the trial’s purpose and misses an early chance to test mandatory, binding limits that could prevent harm.

Local figures are stark: Monash reported $126 million lost on 955 machines since 2024, Ballarat has 652 machines and Greater Dandenong says losses average $387,000 a day (roughly $1,077 per adult). Critics compare the pilot unfavourably with Crown Melbourne’s mandatory carded-play system, which enforces self-imposed caps and reports nearly 99% of sessions ending within limits. Premier Jacinta Allan defends the pilot and says automated carded play will be rolled out statewide, with free cards and implementation support for venues. The pilot runs until November as the state continues to collect significant gambling tax revenue (forecast $2.7bn this financial year).

Key Points

The YourPlay pilot is voluntary: players can track spending but are not required to set binding loss limits.
The trial runs in 43 venues across Monash, Greater Dandenong and Ballarat for three months and will continue until November.
Local councils — including Monash and Ballarat — say the voluntary approach is a missed opportunity to evaluate mandatory harm-minimisation measures.
Monash recorded $126m losses on 955 machines since 2024; Greater Dandenong reports average daily losses of $387,000.
Advocates call the pilot a “sham” compared with mandatory systems like Crown Melbourne’s automatic lockouts, which see nearly 99% of sessions end within self-imposed caps.
Premier Jacinta Allan defends the trial and plans a broader rollout of automated carded play with free cards and venue support.
The state is forecast to earn $2.7bn in gambling taxes this year, underlining the scale of the sector and the stakes for reform.

Why should I read this?

Short version: the trial looks like a half-measure. If you care about gambling harm, local policy or how revenue decisions clash with public-health goals, this story cuts to the chase — councils are furious and advocates reckon the government punted on stronger protections. Read it if you want to know whether Victoria is actually testing solutions or just ticking a box.

Author style (punchy)

This isn’t tiny local politics — it’s a proper test of whether voluntary tinkering can tackle big losses. Councils are at the frontline, advocates are angry, and the state’s tax take shows why operators resist tougher rules. If the pilot stays voluntary, expect limited insights and continued debate over meaningful safeguards.

Context and relevance

The story sits at the intersection of public health, regulatory reform and industry revenues. It matters because it shows how design choices (voluntary vs mandatory limits) shape a trial’s ability to produce actionable evidence. With other jurisdictions and venues already using mandatory card systems, Victoria’s approach will be watched closely by advocates, policymakers and operators — especially as automated carded play is promised for statewide rollout.

Source

Source: https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/victorias-egm-trial-harshly-criticized-over-limits/