Victoria sets September start for mandatory carded play trial amid industry concerns
A three-month YourPlay test will take place across 43 venues.
Australia.- Victoria is set to begin its long-awaited trial of mandatory carded play in September, with 43 gaming venues across Monash, Greater Dandenong, and Ballarat participating in a three-month initiative. The pilot will require all patrons to use a YourPlay card and set personal loss limits before accessing gaming machines.
The trial had initially been slated for mid-2025 but was pushed back following the passage of the Gambling Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 in May. Minister Enver Erdogan said: “This trial is an important first step, helping people take control of their gambling and make better choices.”
However, the pilot has drawn criticism from industry stakeholders, who say the process has been rushed and that the tools being trialled are inadequate. Community Clubs Victoria CEO Andrew Lloyd said participating venues were only notified of the trial late on Friday, days ahead of a planned information session.
“The trial is off to a bumpy start,” Lloyd said. “Venues are getting mixed messages. Some that aren’t in the trial received invites to the briefing, while others that are participating didn’t get the email at all.”
He also expressed concern over potential financial burdens for clubs, which he said will need to increase staff to assist patrons during the trial.
“The minister said he wanted technology for the next 20 years, but YourPlay isn’t it,” he added, urging the government to publish findings from the earlier carded play rollout at Crown Casino before pushing ahead with further implementation.
