Allan government delay pokie reform to raise $800m for their budget

The Allan government plans to help poker machine punters and gambling addicts clock off have been delayed, a move that will help deliver $800m and could be propping up their surplus.

The state government has ­secretly delayed plans to help poker machine addicts in a move that will help deliver $800m into government ­coffers.

The stalling of the plan to make punters who play pokies use cards that can set limits on losses has been slammed by gambling reform advocates as a “betrayal”.

And one Labor figure said the state budget – which is forecasting a $600m surplus next year – now appears to be propped up by cash from battlers with gambling problems.

The reforms are in legislation put to state parliament last year, and would allow the government to introduce card-based play at pokies venues across Victoria this year.

The scheme is already in place at Crown casino following royal commission recommendations, and is supposed to help gamblers consider how much they are willing to lose.

poker machines. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

It was announced in 2023 by former premier Daniel Andrews, who said “we owe it to all Victorians to take this stance and help those experiencing harm turn their lives around”.

Following that announcement, former treasurer Tim Pallas forecast pokies taxes to drop by hundreds of millions of dollars a year – though still to deliver a $5bn pot of gold over four years.

But this year’s budget, ­delivered by Treasurer Jaclyn Symes last week, revised electronic gaming taxes back up and projected a windfall of $5.9bn from pokies over four years.

The government says it is still committed to introducing card-based play at pokies ­venues, but a trial of 40 venues that was supposed to happen by the middle of this year has been quietly dumped.

Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announced the reform which has been delayed Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes speaks at the Melbourne Press Club Budget Lunch. Picture: Supplied

Insiders say there is now likely to be a re-evaluation of technology used for a trial and a slower phase-in at clubs and hotels, which were supposed to have a scheme in place by the end of this year.

One option being pushed by the industry is to consider a South Australian model using facial recognition to enable problem gamblers to be denied entry rather than card-based play, but critics say this doesn’t help people who have not been excluded from venues.

Timing is likely to be outlined when a Bill that passed the lower house in March comes before the upper house.

Labor MPs said the delay did not look good, and some said it would be unpopular with colleagues who had campaigned for harm reduction.

One Labor figure pointed to the budget surplus of $600m while questioning the move.

“That’s built off the back of pokies losses from battlers in outer suburbs,” they said.

Alliance for Gambling ­Reform spokesman Tim Costello said “to delay these protections promised by Labor is a betrayal” and pointed to Crown’s introduction of precommitment cards.

“Its absence beyond Crown as Labor promised is a broken promise betraying its own base as most pokies are in the poorest postcodes,” the Reverend ­Costello said.

“The result is more domestic violence, crime and family ­suffering.”

A Victorian Government spokesperson said the change would be introduced as soon as legislative reform was passed.

“We will pass the Bill and implement these reforms — because too many Victorians are experiencing gambling harm.

“We will work closely with industry and other groups to implement these reforms at venues across the state.

“We’ve always said this would be a phased approach to ensure we get implementation right and bring industry along with us.”

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Originally published as Allan government delay pokie reform to raise $800m for their budget