This week, a voluntary pre-commitment scheme has been launched in Greater Dandenong. YourPlay is a new service that allows players to set limits on how much money and time they spend while playing pokies, and it is hope that it will help to curb problem gambling rates across the area. Machines in Greater Dandenong will offer players updates on how much money and time they have spent while playing.
They can also check their spending on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. They will be able to set limits, and the game will notify them of when they are 70% and 90% of the way there. When they have reached the limit, the gameplay will stop and the players will be asked if they would like to continue. Mark Doubleday, Director of Community Services in Greater Dandenong, has stated that the scheme is welcome in the area.
He is eager to offer any services that could potentially help problem gamblers from making excessive losses. “In 2014-15, $117 million was lost to electronic gaming machines (EGMs or ‘pokies’) in Greater Dandenong, equivalent to $998 an adult — the highest rate of losses per adult in Victoria and nearly twice the metropolitan level,” Mr Doubleday said. Players do not need to register for a new card to use this service.
It will be added to their existing club loyalty card. In fact, even if you don’t have a loyalty card, you can still use YourPlay. This is the first pre-commitment scheme that any Australian community has seen. Greater Dandenong is setting a positive example for the rest of the country, and it is hoped that communities in other states will adopt similar harm-minimisation measures. For more information or to register, visit YourPlay’s website.
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