Crown Perth Casino Confirms Mandatory Carded Play Will Begin on 1 December

Crown Perth Casino will introduce mandatory carded play across all electronic gaming machines from 1 December 2025, completing one of the major reforms recommended by the Perth Casino Royal Commission for improved responsible gaming. The shift means every guest will need a valid, updated Crown Rewards membership card before they can use an EGM on the gaming floor.

The casino has already begun a phased transition, with selected machines switching to card-only activation from mid-October. By the end of November, all guests are expected to have updated membership cards, which can be renewed at Crown Rewards desks with acceptable identification or through the Crown Resorts app for certain functions.

What Mandatory Carded Play Involves

Under the new system, every EGM session must be tied to an individual membership card. The card acts as a personal gambling profile with set limits on time and spending. Play will be capped at 12 hours per day and 28 hours per week, and every user will be required to take a break after three hours of continuous play.

Players can choose their own loss or time limits within these caps. Any decrease takes effect immediately, while increases will be subject to a seven-day cooling-off period. Monthly activity statements and on-screen tracking will provide users with a clearer picture of their gambling behavior, including the time spent and money lost during each session.

The system is designed to give patrons more control over their gambling and to provide Crown Perth Casino with better tools to identify concerning patterns early. The venue’s dedicated PlaySafe team will continue to operate around the clock, offering support both on-site and online.

A Key Royal Commission Reform

Mandatory carded play has been a central focus of regulatory reform since the 2021 Perth Casino Royal Commission, which called for tighter oversight and more robust consumer protections. The introduction of binding time and loss limits, combined with real-time monitoring, positions Western Australia at the forefront of global harm minimisation efforts, with Crown Perth Casino becoming the first venue worldwide to implement all measures under one system.

Regulators stated that the rollout aims to enhance accountability while providing patrons with more information about their own habits. The Gaming and Wagering Commission will monitor the programme throughout its implementation, with an emphasis on reducing harm, ensuring transparency, and enforcing consistent play restrictions.

National Context and Ongoing Trials

Crown Perth Casino’s move mirrors a broader shift across Australia and New Zealand towards traceable, card-linked gambling activity. Similar systems are already in place at Crown Sydney, Star Sydney, and SkyCity’s New Zealand venues. In contrast, Crown Melbourne has been granted more time, with mandatory carded play on table games not expected to be fully operational until the end of 2027.

Outside major casinos, trials continue in pubs and clubs across New South Wales and Victoria as governments assess how similar technology might be used to reduce gambling harm in less-regulated environments.

Crown Perth Casino Card Requirements for EGM Play

All existing Crown Rewards members must ensure their cards are up to date by 1 December. New patrons can sign up at the casino by providing identification, taking a photo, and setting initial time and loss limits with assistance from staff.

Crown Perth Casino has also provided a map showing which EGMs are transitioning each week during the phased rollout. The casino has positioned the change as a long-term safeguard, aiming to give guests clearer insight into their gambling behaviour while strengthening the regulatory framework around EGM play in Western Australia. As these reforms take effect, Western Australian casinos are expected to follow similar responsible-gambling standards as the state continues tightening oversight across the sector.