Melbourne, Australia — Crown Melbourne, a flagship casino in Victoria, has received a two-year extension to implement mandatory carded play across all its table games. The Victorian government extended the deadline from December 2025 to December 2027, citing ongoing technological challenges in transitioning traditional gaming tables from cash to cashless, card-based systems. Mandatory carded play, already introduced for electronic gaming machines since 2023, requires players to use membership cards to set gambling limits and monitor time spent gambling, aiming to enhance transparency and reduce money laundering risks. Crown warned that meeting the original deadline could have led to significant job losses, estimating up to 1,200 retrenchments and potential casino floor closures.
Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines acknowledged the extension during recent parliamentary legislation introductions but faced sharp criticism over the delay. Tim Costello, spokesperson for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, condemned the government’s decision, stating it "fumed over the government appearing to prioritize corporate interests over promised reform," and described the extension as “a setback that undermines public trust and the integrity of gambling reform efforts.” Advocates argue the delay weakens initiatives designed to combat financial crime and protect vulnerable gamblers.
Legislatively, the extension reflects amendments to the Casino Control Act 1991 (Vic) and regulations addressing responsible gambling measures, including mandatory carded play and time/spend limits. Following a 2021 Royal Commission that exposed systemic governance, financial crime, and responsible gambling failures at Crown Melbourne, these reforms were mandated to restore the casino’s suitability and public confidence.
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The government justified the postponement by stating the necessary cashless technology for traditional table games was not yet commercially viable, warranting additional implementation time.
Economically, the extension aims to balance Crown's operational stability and employment preservation against regulatory imperatives for gambling harm minimization and anti-money laundering controls. While Crown emphasizes operational continuity and labor force retention, gambling reform groups and some Labor MPs express concern about the erosion of regulatory momentum. The delay sets a precedent for phased compliance timelines within high-stakes gaming jurisdictions globally, impacting investor confidence and regulatory benchmarks.
