Mondaq – In our article “Gaming Machines and Pre-Commitment: National Gambling Reforms Become Law“1 we summarised the Federal legislation2 (the National Gambling Reform Package) regulating the operation and use of gaming machines and addressing other issues associated with problem gambling. The National Gambling Report Package, among other things, required:
- all gaming machines to be equipped with pre-commitment capability by 31 December 2014;
- ATM’s located at gaming venues to have a 24 hour $250 withdrawal limit; and
- the introduction of a ‘double voluntary’ pre-commitment system by 31 December 2018 (or 2022 for smaller venues).
Victoria has chosen to take a more stringent approach than the approach set out in the Federal legislation. From 1 July 2012, Victoria banned ATM’s completely from gaming venues and also banned any alternative cash access facility that meant that the customer did not interact with venue staff.
When Victoria introduced the Gambling Regulation (Pre-commitment) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) in November 2012, it implemented the requirement set out in the National Gambling Reform Package for pre-commitment capability to be available in all gaming machines in Victoria, two years earlier than required.
By implementing a state-wide pre-commitment scheme the Bill introduces the next step required in the National Gambling Reform Package. This will result in this step being introduced seven years sooner than the timeline set out in the National Gambling Reform Package.
Under the scheme to be introduced by the Bill, the monitoring licensee will be required to provide, operate and maintain a pre-commitment system and associated services. It will be mandatory for all gaming machines at all gaming venues in Victoria to be linked to the pre-commitment system. The pre-commitment scheme itself is ‘double voluntary’, making it voluntary for players both:
- to use the scheme; and
- to set a limit.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (the Commission) will have regulatory oversight of the pre-commitment scheme. The Bill provides the Commission with new powers to make technical standards for both the pre-commitment system and the equipment that venues will require. The Commission will be required to approve the pre-commitment system and any equipment to be installed on the gaming machines to ensure compliance.
