The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation has approved an Electronic Gaming Machine Live Trial Framework to support the introduction of new EGM types and games in order to ensure they do not contribute to player harm.
To ensure the trial provides a useful outcome, the Live Trial Framework provides key conditions including general operational conditions outlining minimum requirements such as: the length of the trial period and location to ensure suitable exposure both across the state and within the trial venues, and the importance of general player observation when they are engaging with the trial game.
“The Live Trial Framework provides a defined and structured approach to testing EGM innovations in a live environment. This enables us to gather intelligence to determine whether EGM types or games are suitable for approval in Victoria,” said a spokesperson for the VCGLR
Furthermore, the framework also looks at quantitative requirements in relation to data which may be captured from the EGM and/or the central monitoring system to highlight the EGMs’ performance in isolation and when compared to a similar or new EGM in the trial environment.
Qualitative requirements will capture player intelligence through surveys to inform an assessment of the players’ view of game performance and potential for harm.
The spokesperson added: “After determining to trial an EGM type or game we will publish the EGM type or game being trialled, term of trial, and trial locations on our website to provide external stakeholders with transparency to trial products that have been permitted.”