In Victoria, there are several restrictions on the number of gaming machines and their locations. These measures are aimed at controlling access to gambling opportunities, particularly in areas considered vulnerable to problem gambling.
Number of machines
The total number of gaming machines in Victoria is capped at 30,000. Each gaming venue is limited to 105 gaming machines, excluding the Melbourne casino which has a limit of no more than 2,628 machines.
Overall distribution of machines
The distribution of gaming machines in Victoria is limited by requirements that:
- at least 20 per cent of all gaming machines must be outside the Melbourne metropolitan area
- 51.51% per cent of all gaming machines must be in hotels, and the other 48.49% per cent in clubs.
Regional caps
Regional caps seek to limit access to gambling opportunities in vulnerable communities across Victoria. The boundaries for capped regions are based on municipalities (local government areas), or specific suburbs within municipalities. There are currently 25 capped regions.
The cap has been set at ten gaming machines per thousand adults or the existing density of gaming machines in the region when the caps were applied, whichever is lower.
Operating hours
Twenty-four-hour trading is prohibited for all venues, other than the Melbourne casino.
Mandatory closure periods for gaming machine areas in Victorian hotels and clubs came into effect on 30 August 2024. This means gaming machines must not be played between 4 am and 10 am daily.