The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has announced new rules for electronic gaming machines (EGMs) at Crown Melbourne, including a ban on gamblers playing more than one machine at a time.
The changes, in keeping with the responsible gambling objectives in the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 and the Casino Control Act 1991,
are expected to reduce the incidence of problem gambling.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, players also will be prohibited from “using any item to hold down buttons on unrestricted machines to facilitate continuous play.”
The VGCCC will also consider other recommendations in a report from last year’s royal commission into operations at Crown, with more regulatory changes likely to be initiated in the future.
“Playing more than one machine at a time is not consistent with the responsible gambling objectives contained in the legislation, and nor is playing continuously by using items to hold down an electronic gaming machine button,” said VGCCC Acting Director for Licensing Jason Cremona.
“The casino is required to ensure that patrons comply with the rules, and the VGCCC will be monitoring compliance and will take regulatory action should Crown not ensure that the rules are complied with.”
The Victorian state government is also planning to increase the tax rate on EGMs at Crown Melbourne. The increase is expected to generate up to AU$30 million (US$21.3 million) a year and subject Crown to the same tax rates as those operated by not-for-profit, community-based venues such as veterans organizations.
In related news, casino inspectors in the state be given greater access to surveillance equipment and casino records. The VGCCC replaced the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) following the Crown probe, which found multiple breaches of compliance including money laundering and called into question Crown’s suitability to retain its gaming license. The casino giant was given the opportunity to remediate the wrongs; its new clean-slate initiative caused the removal of most high-level executives and required majority shareholder James Packer to reduce his stake from 37 percent to 5 percent over several years.
The new laws will mean a single breach of the code is grounds for disciplinary action. Previously the VGCCC could only initiate disciplinary action after repeated breaches of the gambling code, the government said
“This important legislation will enhance compliance and enforcement powers and ensure reducing gambling harm is a key priority of the regulator,” said Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Melissa Horne.
“We’re continuing to hold Crown to account, and these changes will strengthen the already robust oversight of the casino operator.
“The legislation introduced today is an important step in implementing every one of the Royal Commission’s recommendations, with further reforms to be introduced later this year.”
In 2021, a Victorian royal commission found that Crown Resorts failed to prevent money laundering, failed to uphold responsible gaming policies, and failed in overall corporate governance. Those determinations led to the casino operator being deemed unsuitable to hold a gaming license in Victoria. The operator was given a two-year grace period to “clean up its act.”
