Victoria announces pokies reforms Tasmania put in ‘too hard’ basket

As Tasmania hits the brakes on what would’ve been nation-leading gaming reforms, the Victorian government has slammed the accelerator.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff answers questions in Parliament on Tuesday 19th November 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson

The Victorian government has announced gaming reforms similar to those put on hold by the Tasmanian government last week because they are considered complex to implement locally.

Legislation to create a mandatory card-based play with pre-commitment scheme in Victoria has been introduced to that state’s parliament.

Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Melissa Horne said the “laws will save lives and livelihoods by giving control back to patrons”.

Tasmania’s minority Liberal government last week put its plan for a similar scheme on ice, saying it needed “to get the balance right between implementing effective harm minimisation measures and regulatory implications and understanding the complexities and costs”.

In state parliament on Tuesday anti-pokies MP Kristy Johnston said Victoria was making Tasmania look bad.

Independent member for Clark Kristie Johnston speaks in Parliament. Picture: Linda Higginson

“We see today that the Victorian government is rolling out a precommitment card and are

adding slower spin speeds, lower maximum bet limits and shorter hours of operation,” she said during Question Time.

“It seems like you have been caught out in less than a week. Premier, you are no longer nation-leading and all your other excuses have been ridiculed.

“Will you now follow Victoria’s lead and implement Tasmania’s mandatory pre-commitment card, as planned in 2022, by this time next year?”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he was writing to other states to learn about their approaches.

“There is a lot of work that we have done, which I will be open to sharing with the jurisdictions as well regarding the learnings from that,” he said.

“I look forward to positive discussions with other states when it comes to this matter, noting Victoria’s announcement today of a pilot of carded play and other matters.

“We can learn from each other and I look forward to doing what we can.

“We are committed to a precommitment card where practicable and that is great.”

New South Wales is also working on a card-based system for poker machines in that state.

In a submission to a NSW government review, leading gaming machine maker Aristocrat Technologies said a well-designed card-based scheme “may well prove to be one of the most effective technical responsible gaming initiatives available to policy makers and should therefore be endorsed and encouraged”.