Crown Casino imposes strict new limits on electronic gaming machines by December
Crown Casino in Melbourne is set to introduce stricter controls on its electronic gaming machines by December 2023. The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission has ordered these changes to limit spending and playing time on games. Players will now need to set a budget and time limit before starting any game.
These measures come after years of regulatory scrutiny, including heavy fines for breaches in responsible gambling and anti-money laundering laws.
The new rules require every game on Crown's electronic machines to be linked to a player's identity through their gaming card. This step aims to prevent money laundering and enforce responsible gambling. Patrons must also set a spending cap and a time limit before they can begin playing.
By December, the casino will remove machines that allow unlimited or continuous play. Credit limits per machine will be capped at $1,000, and unlimited gaming terminals will be relocated from general areas. The Commission will oversee the rollout of these changes to ensure compliance.
Crown Casino has faced repeated penalties in recent years. In 2022, it was fined $200 million for failing to meet responsible gambling standards and permitting illegal credit card use. A separate $30 million fine was issued for allowing gamblers to deposit self-issued bank cheques, violating problem gambling and money laundering safeguards.
CEO Mike Volkert stated that the latest adjustments would strengthen the casino's efforts to reduce gambling harm. The Commission has not publicly compared these measures to those imposed on other major Australian casinos over the past three years.
The December deadline marks a turning point for Crown Casino's operations. Stricter identity checks, spending limits, and reduced access to continuous-play games will reshape how patrons interact with electronic gaming. The Commission's ongoing monitoring will determine whether these steps effectively curb gambling-related risks.
