Gaming regulators in the Australian state of Victoria have ordered Crown Casino Melbourne to stop distributing plastic picks that enabled punters to play nonstop poker.
The order came down in March from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, which acknowledged that the trick bypassed regulations but declined to issue fines.
“Following the investigation, the VCGLR has determined that the distribution and use of button picks may increase the risk of gambling-related harm and, as such, should not be permitted,” the commission said.
According to ABC.net, whistleblowers came forth in 2017 saying that Crown Casino was handing out the picks, which punters would jam into poker machine buttons. The picks, “similar to guitar picks,” allowed the poker machine to play continuously, in violation of the rule that requires gamblers to press a button for each bet, an action that takes less than three seconds.
Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie was frankly disgusted by the slap on the wrist, and called the response from the commission “pathetic.”
“Not only did the VCGLR take months to come to this conclusion when the evidence was right in front of them the whole time, but Crown has just received a polite talking to and a ‘don’t do it again.’” He added that it “beggars belief” that the regulator was unaware of the use of the picks.
Crown was also accused of removing buttons that limit bet options from pokies, compelling players to make higher bets. It denied the allegations, but was fined $300,000 in the case.
