Victoria’s ambitious plan to rein in pokies use has stalled. The government promised a trial of mandatory loss limits on poker machines by mid-2025. That deadline has come and gone, and the reform is now delayed, possibly for years. Critics aren’t holding back. Frustration is growing among gambling reform advocates, and questions are being raised about the government’s commitment to change.
This wasn’t a backroom policy. It was a headline announcement from former Premier Daniel Andrews. Now, it’s a promise gathering dust while pokies revenue continues to pour into state coffers.
What the plan was meant to do
The centrepiece of the reform was “carded play”, a system requiring pokies players to pre-set how much they’re willing to lose before they even sit down at a machine. The idea is simple and that is to stop players from losing more than they intended.
Pokies are found just about everywhere, in pubs, clubs, and casinos. That widespread availability is part of what fuels their popularity, but it doesn’t stop at physical venues. Visit CasinoBeats Australia, and it becomes clear that the interest in pokies is far from local. Online, the variety is even greater. Licensed operators offer different themes, payout structures, and RTP rates, all designed to appeal to different types of players.
According to iGaming expert Wilna van Wyk, locally hosted online pokies are rare due to Australia’s restrictive licensing environment. Ironically, many of the government’s concerns around risk and regulation are already being addressed offshore. These platforms often include enforced limits, cooling-off periods, and tracking features that help people manage their gaming sessions. In other words, much of what’s being debated for pubs and clubs is already standard elsewhere.
The trial was meant to begin in 40 venues across Victoria. Legislation cleared the lower house in 2023, and it had enough support in the upper house to pass. All that was left was for the government to schedule the debate, and that hasn’t happened.
Crown Casino has already rolled out systems that require a gambling card with pre-set limits on all 2,400 of its machines after a damning royal commission. This resulted in losses dropping, mainly because the system worked. That was supposed to set the tone for the rest of the state. Now the rest of the industry is left in limbo.
Why the delay matters
This isn’t just about bureaucracy or parliamentary calendars. The delay has real-world consequences. Each month without reform means more people continue to face the risks that created the push for change in the first place.
Tim Costello, a veteran voice in gambling reform, has repeatedly raised alarms over how poker machines are designed to encourage extended play. He and others argue the machines aren’t just entertainment, they’re deliberately engineered to keep users engaged well beyond what many would consider reasonable. That’s why delays in introducing checks like pre-set limits are drawing serious criticism.
The financial side is also hard to ignore. Last year, Victoria generated $1.4 billion from pokies taxes, with forecasts pushing that figure to $1.5 billion by 2029. It’s clear the government sees this as a key revenue stream. Any changes that limit play, even modest ones, are expected to reduce that income.
That’s why the timing of the delay has raised eyebrows. Officials cite the usual reasons, such as process, consultation, and scheduling. Critics, however, see a more uncomfortable truth, a reluctance to disrupt a cash flow that comes at a social cost, one that’s increasingly difficult to justify.
Political reactions and public pressure
The backlash has been quick, with several gambling reform groups accusing the government of stalling on purpose. Opposition MPs are starting to ask pointed questions. Even some within the Labor Party are uneasy.
The Greens have used the delay to ramp up pressure, calling for immediate action and accusing the government of dragging its feet to avoid upsetting pub and club owners who depend on pokies for income.
The longer the delay, the harder it becomes to sell the idea that the government is serious. This isn’t some untested idea. It’s up and running, and the results speak for themselves. So it’s hard to understand why the wider rollout is still sitting on the shelf.
Industry concerns and resistance
Sections of the gambling industry aren’t exactly happy about the carded gaming system. Smaller venues, in particular, argue that the system would hit their bottom line. Some have claimed it would drive players away entirely or create red tape that smaller operators can’t manage.
While those concerns aren’t entirely unfounded, the technology behind the carded gaming system has been tested and found to be workable. Larger venues have already adapted. The real issue is whether the government is willing to push through resistance in the name of public health.
There are also worries that any delay could embolden efforts to water down the reform altogether. If the trial never starts, or is quietly shelved, it will send a message that pokies profits matter more than public wellbeing.
What happens next?
The government has insisted the trial is still on the agenda. It says the delay is temporary and that debate in the upper house is expected in the next sitting period. Whether that materialises is anyone’s guess.
Until then, Victoria’s poker machine laws remain unchanged outside of Crown. The carded play model remains confined to one operator. Everyone else continues under the same conditions that drew so much criticism during the royal commission.
The truth is that reform is often messy, and delays are inevitable. However, this one risks undermining the entire effort. If the government doesn’t follow through soon, the chance for meaningful change may disappear entirely.
Conclusion
Victoria had the opportunity to lead the nation in pokies reform. Instead, the delay has raised serious questions about whether that leadership still exists. The promise was made, the need is clear, and the tools are already in use. What’s missing now is the action to back it all up.
