Key Moments:
- Mayor Paul Klisaris criticized the Victorian Government for making loss limits optional in the upcoming cashless gaming pilot.
- Monash residents lost $126 million on pokies in the 2024-25 financial year, the third-highest loss statewide.
- A new state-commissioned study estimated the annual cost of gambling harm in Victoria at $14 billion.
Policy Backlash Over Changes to Cashless Trial
Mayor Paul Klisaris of Monash has called on the Victorian Government to bolster protections for those suffering from gambling addiction, following widespread criticism of revisions to the scheduled cashless gaming pilot. The trial, now set between September and November 2025, will take place in 43 venues featuring electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in Monash, Greater Dandenong, and Ballarat.
Under the proposed system, players will need to register for a YourPlay card to monitor their spending and time on pokies. Although initially framed with a mandatory loss limit requirement, official documents have shifted to describe loss limits as optional. Media outlets reported that this change stemmed from “an innocent drafting error” and that mandatory pre-commitment was never meant for the pilot phase.
Community Leaders Demand Stronger Measures
Klisaris condemned the shift away from compulsory loss limits, insisting that such a move exploits those addicted to gambling. He stated that the government should legislate stricter controls, referencing past regulatory action with Crown Casino. Klisaris further noted the impact of gambling within local communities and emphasized the state’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals.
Speaking to ABC News, Klisaris said: “We are disappointed the Victorian Government did not include mandatory and binding loss limits in their trial, and we do not support it given this omission. We want to see the reversal of the state government’s position on the card and how it’s implemented.”
Concerns mount as timelines for Victoria’s carded play for poker machines keep shifting. Repost via #easternmelburnian pic.twitter.com/GDrmSgtMEQ
— Alliance for Gambling Reform (@ReformGambling) October 13, 2025
Significant Pokies Losses and Council Reactions
According to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), Monash residents lost $126 million on the city’s 955 pokies for the 2024-25 financial year. This figure is the third-largest loss in Victoria. Overall, statewide pokies losses reached $3.14 billion last year, with Monash, Greater Dandenong, and Ballarat collectively representing over 10 percent of the total.
| Municipality | Number of Machines | Annual Losses | Daily Loss Per Adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monash | 955 | $126 million | Not stated |
| Greater Dandenong | 928 | $141 million | $1,077 |
| Ballarat | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Ballarat Mayor Tracey Hargreaves voiced support for the trial but expressed disappointment over the move to optional loss limits, describing it as a missed chance to explore early harm-prevention outcomes. In contrast, the Greater Dandenong Council voted to support the pilot, with Mayor Jim Memeti highlighting the opportunity to help shape future policies.
Criticism from Reform Advocates
Reverend Tim Costello of the Alliance for Gambling Reform called the pilot “a parody.” He pointed out that similar technology has already been adopted at Crown Casino, where mandatory pre-commitment applies to all 2,628 machines, following the 2021 Royal Commission.
The Victorian Government anticipates $2.7 billion in gambling-related tax revenue for this financial year, with a projection for over 2 percent annual growth.
Wider Impacts of Gambling Harm
The pilot is part of broader reforms, including slower machine spin rates and a freeze on the number of EGMs until 2042. Despite these measures, both social and financial damages tied to gambling continue to escalate.
A new report by the Alliance for Gambling Reform, commissioned by the state, valued the annual cost of gambling harm at $14 billion – more than double the figure from eight years prior. The breakdown is as follows:
| Category | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Bankruptcies/Financial Impacts | $5.2 billion |
| Emotional & Psychological Harm | $3.3 billion |
| Family Breakdown & Violence | $2.5 billion |
| Lost Productivity & Education | $1.5 billion |
| Government Costs | $1.3 billion |
| Crime & Policing | $289 million |
Pokies have been identified as the main driver of gambling harm, accounting for $6.7 billion – more than all other legalized forms of gambling combined – despite only about one in ten Victorians using them.
Alliance CEO Martin Thomas questioned, “Who really benefits?” and argued for the expedited implementation of mandatory pre-commitment cards throughout all pubs and clubs. He emphasized, “The economic damage is only half the story. Behind every dollar lost are families and communities torn apart.”
- Author
Daniel Williams
