by kerr
m (https://www.twoplustwo.com/post?postId=59182629#post59182629)
Not sure if true, but I was recently told that Crown initially suggested what is now in place, that one player takes a break each 20 mins but the government (VGCCC?) insisted that entire tables go on break.
The VGCCC says it has embedded "a harm minimisation focus into every element of [its] regulatory activity, including how we evaluate all licencing approvals and applications," as outlined in this statement from 2023:
https://www.vgccc.vic.gov.au/about-vgccc/our-position-gambling-harm
vgccc
Our position on gambling harm (https://www.vgccc.vic.gov.au/about-vgccc/our-position-gambling-harm)
While the VGCCC has statutory authority granted to it by the Casino Control Act and Gambling Regulation Act, I don't believe this statutory authority provides it with the legal authority to enforce mandatory breaks. It can make recommendations and threaten to withdraw a licence and/or issue a breach notice if these recommendations aren't followed but a removal of a licence/issue of a breach would likely be contested on such grounds. If a mandatory break was actually legislated by the state government then the situation would be clearer; however, if mandatory breaks were legislated then players, not just licence holders, could also contest this law, which would open-up a can of worms.
by kerr
m (https://www.twoplustwo.com/post?postId=59182629#post59182629)
Will be interesting if any internationals come for the AM and play high stakes cash. “Sorry Patrik, you need to take a break, come back in 20 minutes. Oh, and you can’t play any table games during your break!”
Having not played at Crown for two years until these last few weeks, it has been notable how on multiple occasions each day there is a dispute over the 20 mins break, typically when a player goes to sit down with a rack of chips and is then told they need to take a break for 20 mins, even though haven't played a single hand: a rule that is clearly absurd. That this absurdity is not officially recognised by Crown and/or the VGCCC is another absurdity. Hence the "lunatics have taken over the asylum" comment above. It's a mess and with most forms of mess, in the end nobody wins, except the "cleaning company", which, to extend the metaphor, is the layer of "responsible gaming" staff and infrastructure that is currently sucking money out of the local poker economy and also damaging the integrity of all those researchers who've spent their lives attempting to better understand and tackle genuine issues around gambling addiction and social harm.