Australia Expands Voluntary Gambling Limit Card Program

Australia is thinking of asking gaming patrons to place voluntary limits that electronic cards will enforce as a better method of controlling problem gambling than banning poker machines.

Australia's government has taken a new tack in its approach to preventing problem gambling incidents. Turning from bans and prohibitions, Queensland authorities have been testing electronic gaming cards that keep players within limits they set for themselves.

The cards have been in trial usage for a year, giving patrons of poker machines the chance to establish a betting limit and then cutting off their play when they reach that point. The gaming technology allows machines to communicate throughout a network, preventing players from just advancing to the next poker machine.

"The trials showed promising results, with some patrons reporting a spend reduction of up to $25 per day," Gaming Minister Lawlor said.

The cards may soon be introduced throughout Queensland, and eventually pokies may be set to require a card to play. The system is viewed by pub operators as far less intrusive than limiting and restricting the revenue-producing games.

"This harm minimization concept offers gaming patrons more control over their spending and could potentially be rolled out throughout the state," said Lawlor.

Pokies are virtually identical to US slot machines.