Starting December 14, all patrons who play slots (or electronic gaming machines, EGMs) at Crown Melbourne will be required to set limits on losses and time of play, as part of a new pre-commitment initiative.
The new regulations tie back to the recommendations set forth by the Finkelstein Royal Commission from October 2021, which found Crown to be unsuitable for licensure in Victoria.
As part of the pre-commitment principles, players who reach their time or loss limits will be unable to play at the casino for either 24 hours or seven days, whichever is chosen before play begins. The casino had already implemented mandatory 15-minute breaks for every three hours of continuous play, and 24-hour breaks for patrons who log 12 hours of play in any 24-hour period.
Moving forward, carded play will be required for all machines, and the operator will be required to verify players’ ID when opening a membership account, which will provide real-time updates to players on screen.
In addition to machines, carded play at all table games is also expected to be implemented by the end of 2025.
With regard to payouts, new anti-money laundering regulations state that cash payouts are capped at AU$1,000—any higher amounts will only be paid by check or electronic transfer.
Crown CEO Ciarán Carruthers said in a statement that the company’s “ambition is to operate the safest casinos in the world, and we are proud to pioneer this transformative and world-first shift with the introduction of carded play at Crown Melbourne.
“The implementation of carded play begins a new era of transparency and commitment, helping to reshape the gambling landscape and ensure our guests are better able to manage and play within their personal limits.
“Carded play will help to foster a safer, more enjoyable experience for all and revolutionize the way our guests engage with gambling and entertainment.”
“We are delivering nation-leading reforms to protect the most vulnerable from gambling harm and putting the power back into the hands of patrons,” added Melissa Horne, the state’s minister for casino, gaming and liquor regulation.
“Those who think they can get away with criminal activity like money laundering are wrong – these changes are about tracking, stopping and prosecuting this illegal activity.”
