Face scanning, phone accounts on cards for pokies but gambling reform delays frustrate advocates

Victoria is exploring face-scanning technology at gambling venues and linking poker machines to phone accounts to limit losses, but frustrated Labor MPs and anti-gambling advocates say the move is holding back long-awaited harm-reduction plans.

The Allan government has already promised the introduction of mandatory precommitments and restrictions on opening times as part of their gambling reforms.

Reforms to pokies have been delayed in Victoria.Credit: Jason South

But a trial of loss-limiting cashless pokies cards at 40 venues, due to begin in the middle of 2025, has been pushed back until later this year, and the deadline for a wider rollout is not expected until 2027.

The government has also changed its language about the use of loss-limiting cashless pokies cards, instead moving towards “account-based play” which could include phone logins or other ways of confirming identities, similar to the technology being built for the new myki system.

They are also looking at the use of facial-recognition technology as an extra measure, which is in place in South Australia and being explored in New South Wales.

But three Labor MPs, speaking anonymously to discuss confidential discussions, have expressed disappointment at caucus meetings over the new timeline, and gambling advocates are frustrated that the focus on new technology has pushed back already-promised reforms that could reduce harm now.

Alliance for Gambling Reform director of policy Rebecca Paterson said carded gaming was the gold standard for gambling harm reduction and needed to be implemented sooner, rather than later.

“The losses in Victoria continue to steadily climb year-on-year and are expected to be significantly higher at the end of this financial year than the previous,” she said. “It’s a growing problem.”

One MP, speaking anonymously to speak about sensitive matters, said there was “no time to spare”.

“Gambling harm is only going to get worse the longer it takes for us to implement these very important measures,” they said.

“A lot of caucus members are keen to get the original measures introduced that we promised. In parallel, you can look at that [new technology]. But as a starting point, let’s start rolling this out because that is something we know that works.”

Gaming Minister Enver Erdogan told budget estimates this month that they must invest in a system that would “stand the test of time”.

“The delay was about making sure that we future-proofed this important reform,” he said.

Erdogan told the hearing carded play was “one option” but noted a decline in people’s use of cards.

In a statement, the minister said an account-based play trial with select venues was expected to start next year, and the government would work on it “hand in glove” with the industry and stakeholders.

Enver Erdogan says the system needs to be future-proof.Credit: AAP

“We are looking closely at what has worked in other jurisdictions, examining any new technology they have used, so we can make sure the rollout works,” Erdogan said.

The government has tied full implementation of its gambling reform program to the awarding of a new monitoring licence in 2027 that will oversee 26,000 machines in all Victorian pubs and clubs.

An invitation-to-apply process has already started for this licence, which is expected to include the existing operator and players like Tabcorp, but it is feared the wait to award the licence will create further delays.

In Tasmania, the government has rescheduled its reforms, including a cashless pokies card, until the end of this year, after a report from the operator in charge of implementing it, Max Gaming, warned of cost increases and implementation delays.

Max Gaming, which is owned by Tabcorp, was believed by three industry sources, not authorised to speak about confidential business matters, to be interested in the Victorian scheme.

A Tabcorp spokesman declined to comment on whether it was bidding for the Victorian licence, but they said the delays in Tasmania was a choice of government rather than an issue linked to their performance.

“Max Gaming successfully implemented monitoring in line with the Tasmanian licensing requirements,” they said.

“Max was also asked to design a pre-commitment model which was delivered on time. The Tasmanian government chose to pause its implementation,” they said.

In 2022, Max Gaming agreed to amend its contracts with gaming venues after an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigation found some of their terms might have been unfair.

Under Victoria’s existing monitoring licence, Intralot Gaming Services operates a voluntary pre-commitment system known as YourPlay.

But it has been criticised for failing to stem losses. The Age revealed a 2019 Victorian Department of Justice report that found it had a “very low” take-up rate.

The 40 venues who adopt the trial of loss-limiting cashless pokie cards will not be compensated for lost revenue, however, the government expects this to be minimal.

Community Clubs Victoria chief executive Andrew Lloyd backed the minister’s push to develop a system that lasted for the next 20 years, but said the government should release a review it had on the implementation of carded play at Crown casino.

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