The Allan government has come under fire for postponing its poker machine reform plan, a delay that may funnel an additional $800 million into Victoria’s budget. The reform, initially promised by former Premier Daniel Andrews in 2023, aimed to implement a mandatory pre-commitment system—commonly referred to as “carded play”—requiring players to set betting limits before using pokies machines.

Budget surplus tied to gambling revenue:

While the plan had advanced to Victoria’s lower house last year and was expected to begin with a trial across 40 venues by mid-2024, the trial has not occurred. Instead, the legislation now appears stalled in the upper house despite sufficient support for it to pass. According to sources familiar with parliamentary scheduling, the bill may be debated in the coming fortnight, though implementation is not expected until after the 2026 election.

The decision to delay the rollout aligns with the projections in this year’s state budget. Treasurer Jaclyn Symes’ budget report, released last week, forecasts an increase in pokies tax revenue—now expected to grow to $1.5 billion annually by 2028–29. This figure is up from $1.4 billion last year and contrasts sharply with previous estimates that had anticipated a tax reduction following the introduction of carded play.

An anonymous Labor MP expressed concern over the optics, noting that the delay could be seen as placing budgetary gain above public welfare: “That’s built off the back of pokies losses from battlers in outer suburbs.” The government is forecasting a $600 million surplus, which some within the party believe is being propped up by gambling losses.

Reverend Tim Costello of the Alliance for Gambling Reform strongly condemned the delay. “To delay these protections promised by Labor is a betrayal,” he said. “The cashless card at Crown pokies is working to prevent harm and Labor promised the public to trial and implement this card to all pub and Club and pub pokies.”

Pushback from advocates and political allies:

Crown Casino remains the only venue in the Australian state with a pre-commitment card system in place, following the mandates imposed after the royal commission into its practices. Data suggests that gambling losses at Crown have fallen since the introduction of the system, strengthening calls for a broader rollout. Critics, including Costello, argue the delay is particularly damaging given that pokies are “literally the crack cocaine of gambling.”

According to ABC.net, Greens MP Katherine Copsey expressed concern that the government might cave to pressure from the gambling lobby: “The Greens are ready to work with Labor to pass this pokies reform right now. We have the numbers in parliament, so what are Labor waiting for?”

Meanwhile, the Coalition remains opposed to the scheme, echoing concerns raised by the Australian Hotels Association. One alternative being floated by industry stakeholders is a model based on South Australia’s facial recognition system to block excluded gamblers from entering venues. However, gambling reform advocates argue this method doesn’t protect players who haven’t been formally excluded.

Despite the growing criticism, the government maintains that it remains committed to the reforms. Premier Jacinta Allan stated, “We are committed to those reforms,” and Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Enver Erdogan reiterated that the changes would still move forward, albeit gradually. “We’ve always said this would be a phased approach to ensure we get implementation right and bring industry along with us,” Erdogan explained.

A government spokesperson added, “We will pass the Bill and implement these reforms — because too many Victorians are experiencing gambling harm.”

The next steps for the reform include revisiting the technology needed to facilitate the scheme, a process which will likely involve updated trials before any broader implementation begins. Though legislation for carded play passed the lower house in March, the trial scheduled for May was quietly scrapped. Sources suggest a new plan will unfold more slowly, with future phases depending on cooperation with industry partners.

As pressure mounts from gambling harm advocates, political allies, and community groups, the government’s delay continues to be scrutinized, especially as it appears to underpin key financial gains in the state budget.