NSW Labor to Consider Cutting Pokie Numbers by Half Amid Calls for Harm Reduction

(AsiaGameHub) –   The New South Wales (NSW) Labor administration is set to vote on a proposal to cut the state’s gaming machine count by half, following warnings regarding the “incalculable harm” they inflict.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has introduced the motion, which will be considered at the NSW Labor Annual State Conference this July. The plan aims to decrease the number of “pokies”—as the machines are locally known—in pubs and clubs across the state from 87,000 to approximately 42,000 within ten years.

Byrne characterized the machines as a “scourge” responsible for “incalculable harm” to NSW residents. He further highlighted that the state possesses a higher density of gaming machines per capita than anywhere else, excluding global gambling centers such as Las Vegas and Macau.

In a social media statement, Byrne declared: “Enough is enough. The human toll caused by poker machines can no longer be ignored.”

“Annual losses from poker machines in NSW have climbed to over AU$9 billion (£4.79bn), indicating that the issue is escalating. The bulk of these losses are being sustained by individuals in lower-income and working-class areas.”

The motion urges Labor MPs to base their vote on ethical considerations rather than political ones, while also proposing support programs to help pubs and clubs transition away from a reliance on gaming revenue.

The NSW government is facing mounting pressure to reform its gaming machine regulations.

Earlier this year, NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris overturned exemptions that had allowed over 670 venues to bypass mandatory 4am to 10am shutdown periods. This decision followed state-funded research indicating that players face a significantly higher risk of harm during post-midnight hours.

Prior to that announcement, the Green Party’s Cate Faehrmann had criticized NSW Premier Chris Minns, alleging that he was allowing the gambling sector to influence state policy while disregarding research findings.

At the time of the policy change, Harris stated: “The NSW Government remains committed to evidence-based reforms that balance the mitigation of gambling harm with support for an industry that contributes billions to the state’s economy and provides jobs for over 150,000 people.”

Nationally, the Australian Labor government, under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is also refining regulations to restrict gambling advertising, with new measures scheduled to take effect at the beginning of 2027.

These upcoming changes include caps on the frequency of gambling ads per hour and total prohibitions on advertising during specific windows, such as school drop-off and pick-up times.