by Bonnie Collings
A trial of mandatory account-based play is set to begin at select gaming venues in September, as part of the Victorian state government's gambling reforms.
The trial comes in the wake of startling new figures released by the Alliance for Gambling Reform which showed the cost of gambling losses across Victoria doubled to $14.1 billion in the past eight years.
In Baw Baw Shire, $20.4 million was lost through electronic gambling machines (EGMs) during the 2023/24 period, an increase of three per cent from the previous financial year, according to 2024 data. The losses in Baw Baw Shire equated to $55,975 per day.

There are 238 EGMs at four venues in the shire, contributing to the 26