Gaming machine caps and limits

State gaming machine cap

The total number of gaming machines allowed in Victoria is 30,000. Of these:

• 2,628 are allocated to the Melbourne casino
• half of the remaining 27,372 are allocated to clubs, and the other half to hotels.

Municipal limits and regional caps

Gaming machine caps are a legal limit on how many gaming machine entitlements are available for gaming within specific geographic areas of Victoria. The Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation sets the maximum number of entitlements available in each capped region and municipal district. The Minister may refer this power to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission  (VGCCC).

What is the difference between municipal limits and regional caps?

Regional caps were the first introduced in 2001 and there are currently 25 purpose-defined regions with specific caps. These regions consist of municipalities, or specific locality boundaries (suburbs) within municipalities.

Municipal limits were introduced in 2009 and cover nearly all municipal areas of Victoria at a ratio of 10 gaming machines per 1000 adults. If population rises, the limit may increase. Municipal limits have been calculated using the 2017 adult population, with the municipal limit set in most cases at 10 gaming machine entitlements per 1,000 adults. For some areas, in order to prevent large increases in additional capacity in a municipal district, the municipal limit has been adjusted to limit increases in additional capacity to 25% of the total maximum permissible number of entitlements in place before 3 November 2017.

Regional caps and municipal limits were last updated by the Commission in November 2017 following the Minister for Gaming’s Order in September 2017.

For maximum number of gaming machines in capped regions and municipal districts, see the Ministerial order dated 20 September 2017 (PDF, 1.48 MB).

See also Gaming machine regional caps and limits for more information.

Venue level limits

Clubs are not able to hold more than 840 club gaming machine entitlements, and no single approved venue may have more than 105 entitlements attached. No individual or organisation may have an interest in more than 35 per cent of hotel gaming machine entitlements.

Areas without caps

The Melbourne CBD, Docklands and Southbank precincts do not have caps or municipal limits, so there is no mandated limit on the number of entitlements that can be situated in these specific areas.

For a description of these particular areas, section 5 the Ministerial order dated 20 September 2017 (PDF, 1.48 MB).