$10.8 million lost per month on the slots: Monash punters to trial new pokie card

Gamblers will be able to set limits on how much they spend and how long they play.

Matthew Sims
July 22, 2025

Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello has welcomed the State Government’s announcement of account-based play, slated to roll out across three LGAs, including Monash.

The state government said on Monday the test of the new YourPlay technology would run from September to November across 43 venues in the Monash, Greater Dandenong and Ballarat LGAs.

In May, gamblers across the Monash LGA lost more than $10.8 million across 15 venues, representing the eighth largest loss across the state.

The history

Federal Government Productivity Commission reports in 1999 and 2010 recommended “carded play” - which would allow users to place a monetary cap on total losses and a time-based stop on their play - be introduced in Australia.

In 2021, the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence for Crown Casino resulted in the gambling giant having to introduce carded play. It has since shown a drop in losses.

Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello spoke to the Eastern Melburnian in June about his disappointment that the trial had not happened yet.

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What will the trial involve?

From September, gamblers using electronic gaming machines across Monash’s 15 venues will have to use a YourPlay card, which allows them to set time-based limits.

For example, they may set a $50 daily limit and if they lose the money or reach the time limit, they will be locked out until the following day or week begins. However, they can only change these limits once every 24 hours.

In addition, the system also allows users to self-exclude from all venues.

What is the reaction from advocates and support workers?

Costello was “very relieved” when he heard the news about the trial.

“We know the technology works.”

He said Victoria was ahead of NSW in moving on poker machines.

“New South Wales turned the trial into a trial of whether punters like it or not. It’s a trial of technology we’re doing, not whether punters like it.”

EACH operates free local Gambler’s Help services for the Outer East, with locations in Healesville, Yarra Junction, Lilydale, Boronia, Ringwood, Box Hill and Glen Waverley.

Community engagement officer Penny Christie said “anything that makes people aware of how much money they are spending on gambling must be helpful”.

She said gambling products “are designed to be addictive - the music, the graphics, the story behind the pokies, the ambient lighting and temperature, and the fact people get into ‘the Zone’, where they are so immersed they lose all track of time and reality”.

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What’s next?

Alliance for Gambling Reform’s Rebecca Paterson said the group was seeking more detail from the state about implementing the carded play system as soon as possible following the three-month trial period.

“We don’t have a clear understanding of the overall timeline that the minister’s aiming for,” she told the Eastern Melburnian.

Image Credit: Vinícius Vieira