Crown Melbourne Gets Two More Years to Roll Out Key Gambling Change

The Victorian government has given Crown Melbourne an extra two years to put in place mandatory card play for all its table games, pushing the deadline to December 2027. This decision, announced this week, has sparked new talks about the state’s dedication to gambling reform and efforts to fight money laundering.

Government Grants Crown More Time for Anti-Money Laundering Reforms

The change first suggested by the 2021 Royal Commission looking into Crown’s business was supposed to start by the end of 2025. It aims to swap cash deals at tables for a system where players use signed-up accounts. This would allow officials to better keep an eye on gambling activity and stop dirty money from flowing through the casino.

Government officials claimed the extension was needed because the tech to handle cashless betting at regular tables is still in the works, reported Australian news outlet The Age. Crown has said that an earlier cutoff date might have caused big job cuts, with internal figures warning that up to 1,200 jobs could be lost if some gaming areas had to shut down.

Groups fighting gambling have slammed the holdup. The Alliance for Gambling Reform said the government is going back on its word to clean up the industry, calling the choice a step backward in trying to tackle money laundering risks and shield at-risk players. Some Labor MPs have shown concern about the move, hinting that it goes against the party’s plans for change.

Crown Touts Progress on Reforms as Critics Question State’s Gambling Strategy

Crown maintains it is making headway. The casino has already put carded play on all slot machines into action and aims to expand the system to electronic table games in the next few months. A company rep called the Melbourne venue a “global leader in responsible gaming initiatives,” pointing out the launch of pre-set loss and time limits on its poker machines.

This latest change happens just over a year after Crown got its casino license back, following a big internal shakeup sparked by findings of widespread wrongdoing. The Royal Commission uncovered systemic problems, including tax shortfalls, helping illegal money transfers, and targeting problem gamblers.

People who criticize the plan also point out problems in the state’s wider gambling changes. Pubs and clubs in Melbourne and Ballarat are about to start testing carded play next month. However, the government chose not to include required loss limits in the program. This choice led the Alliance for Gambling Reform to stop supporting it.

The bill to make the extended deadline official is now in parliament. Leaders of the opposition have not said yet if they will back the plan. This leaves the final result up in the air as talks about Crown’s future oversight keep going.