Crown Melbourne receives extension on deadline to implement carded play

The casino operator had said that introducing the system this year would have resulted in significant job losses.

Australia.- Crown Melbourne has received a two-year extension on a deadline to expand mandatory carded play to all table games. The Victorian government has put back the deadline set by the Royal Commission from December 2025 until December 2027. Crown had said that introducing the system this year would have resulted in significant job losses.

Legislation was introduced to parliament this week supporting the extension, which is said to relate to the challenges in implementing technology that did not exist when mandated by the 2021 Royal Commission as part of Crown’s Melbourne casino licence.

Carded play allows players to set spending limits before using electronic machines. The system has been in place for slot machines at Crown Melbourne since 2023.

The Alliance for Gambling Reform criticised the extension. Spokesman Tim Costello said: “The royal commission found they shouldn’t retain a licence unless they do these things. It is all too cosy with an ex-minister chairing the Crown board and Labor seeming to look after their mates.” 

Some members of the Labor Party also argued that it conflicts with proposed reforms.

Earlier this month, Crown Melbourne was given a ticking off by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for “multiple breaches of its gambling harm minimisation obligations” between December 2023, when mandatory carded play was introduced, and July 21, 2024

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See also: VGCCC wraps Crown Melbourne over breaches of gambling harm obligations

The casino operator had said that introducing the system this year would have resulted in significant job losses. Australia.- Crown Melbourne has received a two-year extension on a deadline to…