New measures to prevent gambling harm have been introduced by Victoria for Crown Melbourne

The implementation of these changes aims to tackle problem gambling at the venue, with one such measure being mandatory breaks after 3 hours of gambling.

Victoria’s state government has unveiled fresh gambling harm measures for Crown Casino in Melbourne, which entail customers being required to take a 15-minute break after three consecutive hours of gambling, and a 24-hour break after 12 hours of gambling in a single day. Additionally, customers are restricted to a maximum of 36 hours of gambling per week. Melissa Horne, the minister responsible for casino and gaming affairs in Victoria, stated that Crown Casino staff will have the authority to refuse entry to individuals who refuse to follow the mandatory breaks.

In the aftermath of the Royal Commission‘s finding that Crown Resorts was not fit to retain its licence for the Crown Melbourne Casino, the new measures have been put in place to combat problem gambling and decrease the possibility of exploitative conduct towards vulnerable customers. Despite being allowed to maintain its licence through the appointment of a special manager to supervise the casino for two years, Crown Resorts has stated in a release that it has been working in tandem with the Victorian Government to implement these exceptional measures, which will enable the company to adopt industry-leading methods to lessen and prevent gambling-related harm.

Mike Volkert, CEO of Crown Melbourne, has affirmed that his team will be expeditiously trained and the new Code will be fully integrated. This effort complements their ongoing transformation, spanning more than 18 months, to develop a Crown that surpasses the demands of stakeholders and communities. He added that these measures are part of their enhanced responsible gambling approach, which strives to foster a more wholesome and safer gambling environment for everyone.

“This includes the implementation of our new and enhanced approach to responsible gambling which aims to bring about a healthier, safer gambling culture for all.”