In a bid to crack down on potential problem gaming and to make the industry more regulated, new measures have been determined for all poker machines in Victoria, Australia, from 2010.

The new measures would include placing time and spending limitations on the machines.

The new features would be installed on all new generation poker machines which are being introduced into the area gradually, until 2010. The Victorian Premier, John Brumby, said that the government is still to determine whether the new limiting features will be mandatory for all players, or if gamblers will have a choice in the matter. Further details of the scheme are still being ironed out. 

Mr. Brumby continued to explain that the new measures would enable players to decide in advance how long they wanted their gambling session to last and how much money they were prepared to spend during this session. He claimed that for players with a tendency to problem gambling, loss of control is the primary factor to trigger the problem. 

The typical scenario of a problem gambler is a player who goes to a gambling venue with a specific limit in mind and continues to play well beyond this limit even though he knows he should not, or can not afford it. The new measures are aimed in helping players gain control of their gaming habits and to avoid becoming problem gambler. 

As part of the new program, maximum poker limits will be halved to $5 per spin and warning signs will be displayed near poker machines. In addition, fines for venues that allow minors to gamble will be upped to $13,000. 

The new measures are expected to become part of all the machines by 2010, with the old style machines being completely phased out by 2012.