Crown Perth to introduce mandatory carded play from 1 December

Summary

Crown Perth will implement mandatory carded play across electronic gaming machines (EGMs) from 1 December 2025, fulfilling a key recommendation from the 2021 Perth Casino Royal Commission. All EGM patrons must use a personalised membership card linked to an account that enforces time and loss limits. Play will be capped at 12 hours per day and 28 hours per week with mandatory three‑hour breaks. Players can set their own limits within those caps, but any increase will take effect only after a seven‑day cooling‑off period.

The system will provide on‑screen tracking and monthly activity statements so players can monitor spending; Crown Perth will be able to identify risky behaviour and offer support when needed. WA Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia and Gaming and Wagering Commission Chair Gary Dreibergs said the measure strengthens consumer protections and is part of broader reforms to minimise gambling harm.

Similar carded systems have already been used in Crown and Star Entertainment casinos in Sydney and at SkyCity in New Zealand. Crown Melbourne was granted an extension to roll carded-play technology out to all table games until December 2027. Trials of carded or tracked play continue in pubs and clubs in NSW and Victoria.

Key Points

Mandatory personalised membership cards required for all EGM play at Crown Perth from 1 December 2025.
Limits: maximum 12 hours per day, 28 hours per week, with mandatory breaks every three hours.
Players may set limits within those caps; any increase triggers a seven‑day cooling‑off period.
On‑screen tracking and monthly player activity statements will help players monitor spending and enable staff to detect risky behaviour.
Measure fulfils a Perth Casino Royal Commission recommendation and sits within a wider harm‑minimisation reform programme.
Carded play already exists in other Australian and New Zealand venues; Crown Melbourne has a delayed rollout to 2027 for table games.

Context and Relevance

This is a regulatory and operational milestone for Crown Perth and the Western Australian gambling sector. It underlines the shift from voluntary measures to enforced player tracking and limits — a trend driven by Royal Commission findings and increasing regulatory focus on minimising gambling harm. Operators, regulators and technology suppliers will need to adapt systems, staffing and communications to ensure compliance and to identify and support at‑risk patrons. The move also strengthens precedents that could shape future policy in other jurisdictions.

Why should I read this?

Short answer: you should — especially if you work in operations, compliance, supplier tech or investor relations for gaming. This changes how customers are managed on the floor, what systems have to report, and how harm‑minimisation is enforced. We’ve cut through the detail so you can see what will affect your side of the business without wading through the whole release.

Source

Source: https://asgam.com/2025/10/24/crown-perth-to-introduce-mandatory-carded-play-from-1-december/