NSW pushes for stricter poker machine limits amid mounting reform pressure
Advocates in New South Wales are urging the government to tighten restrictions on poker machines, citing massive losses and declining public trust.
New South Wales, home to nearly 90,000 poker machines—about 35% of the global total—faces growing calls for tighter gambling controls. A Wesley Mission-commissioned survey revealed public trust in the state government plummeted to 16% by September 2026, with half of respondents believing the gambling lobby wields excessive political influence. Independent MP Alex Greenwich criticized both the government and parliament for failing to act on reform promises made during the 2023 election.
Premier Chris Minns has introduced modest measures, such as restricting machine operation to 4 am-10 am, but advocates argue the greatest harm occurs earlier. The Put Pokies in Their Place campaign, aligned with Gamble Aware week, seeks a midnight-to-10 am ban and an independent statewide exclusion register, while Wesley Mission’s Stu Cameron described pokies as “reverse ATMs” siphoning money from communities. The push follows a 2022 Crime Commission report linking $95 billion of illicit proceeds to electronic gaming machines.
Why it matters
The reforms could curb billions in gambling losses and reduce the influence of the betting industry on NSW politics.
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