Casino and gambling reforms considered

In his second reading speech Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said the Casino and Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 enhances the powers of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, allowing disciplinary action against Crown Melbourne and its corporate associates.  
  
It introduces a range of reforms aimed at strengthening gambling regulation and harm minimisation, including mandatory exclusion orders for individuals seeking self-exclusion from the Melbourne casino, updates to public lottery licensing ahead of the 2028 expiry, and provisions for electronic payment of winnings to phase out the use of cheques.

“ 'More time is needed for Crown Melbourne to adapt its business model to the impacts of carded play on traditional table games. ' ”

Anthony Carbines, Minister for Police

‘The Royal Commission recommended making the use of a player card mandatory for all gambling at the casino,’ he said.  
  
However, while a player card has been required for electronic gaming machines since December 2023, he said Crown Melbourne needed more time to ‘adapt its business model to the impacts of carded play on traditional table games. The Bill will extend the implementation deadline for the use of player cards on this remaining undeclared game type to 1 December 2027’.  
  
Member for Ovens Tim McCurdy said the opposition did not oppose the bill.  
  
‘Gambling is a legitimate pastime in Victoria, and as always it is important to ensure that for those with a gambling addiction or problem the checks and balances are there as a safety net.’  
  
But he said if the casino did not get an extension to comply with the regulations it could be forced to close down roulette and blackjack tables at a cost of 1000 jobs.

‘Extending the timeframe to achieve better outcomes is plain common sense. This is not letting them off the hook; it’s ensuring job security for many and that Melbourne’s biggest entertainment complex will stay in full swing over the coming summer.’  

Member for Sunbury Josh Bull said the bill ‘builds upon the nation-leading reforms that we have already implemented and are being implemented through pubs and clubs across the state: the mandatory carded play at Crown on EGMs, the precommitment, the mandatory 4 am to 10 am closure in pubs and clubs, the $100 load-up limits, the slower spin rates and of course the provisions for cash withdrawals from EFTPOS machines’.

“ 'This is not letting them off the hook; it’s ensuring job security for many.' ”

Tim McCurdy, Member for Ovens

Brad Rowswell, Member for Sandringham, said the legislation would allow the casino to continue to employ the 13,000 people who work onsite.  
  
'But it is not just about employees; it is also about how much Crown spends in Victoria. Annually I am advised Crown spends some $417 billion in Victoria across over 1890 businesses, and the vast majority of those are in fact small to medium-sized businesses,’ he said.

“ 'Let us put people first. Let us deliver the carded play with precommitment reforms that Victoria was promised.' ”

Tim Read, Member for Brunswick

Member for Brunswick Tim Read criticised the delayed introduction of carded play.  
  
‘What we say to the government is: keep the strong parts of the bill; drop the delay. Crown has been given four years notice to get things in place. So let us put people first. Let us deliver the carded play with precommitment reforms that Victoria was promised,’ he said.

The full debate can be found in Hansard.

The bill is set to be considered byt the Legislative Council next sitting week.