The New South Wales government has taken no action regarding the $2.17 billion losses from poker machines in the first three months of this year, despite calls from a charity group to tighten regulations.
A study by Wesley Mission showed that in the first three months of 2025, 5.7% more money was lost to poker machines compared to the same period in 2024. According to the study, New South Wales residents lose more than $1 million per hour, which is nearly $24 million per day.
The residents of the western Sydney suburbs lost the most money. In just 90 days, nearly $186 million was lost on 4,924 poker machines in the Canterbury and Bankstown area.
This averages more than $2 million per day. During the same three-month period, the western Sydney areas of Fairfield, Cumberland, Blacktown, Parramatta, Penrith, Campbelltown, and Canterbury-Bankstown lost nearly $766 million to poker machines.
In western Sydney, people lose about $3,200 annually, according to Wesley Mission, which is part of the NSW government's independent gambling reform expert panel.
Government Inaction and Community Frustration
Wesley Mission CEO Stu Cameron urged the state government to take action and immediately tighten poker machine regulations. Cameron stated that although the government has introduced some changes, they have not had a significant impact.
He pointed out that the harm caused by poker machines continues to increase, with losses growing daily. If the goal was to reduce gambling harm, he said, these measures were insufficient. He emphasized that now is the time for courage to act decisively, not for further delay.
In response, a spokesperson for New South Wales Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris stated that the government remains committed to implementing evidence-based reforms.
Their goal is to reduce gambling harm, prevent money laundering, support local communities, and create jobs. Harris noted that “behavior change takes time” and that this is the long-term goal of their gambling reform strategy.
Calls for Stricter Gambling Reforms
Since coming to power in 2023, the current administration has reduced the poker machine limit in New South Wales by more than 3,000, thereby reducing the total number of machines across the state.
Additionally, the government has introduced cash limits for new machines, invested $100 million in harm reduction initiatives, and increased the number of responsible gambling officers to enhance support.
Meanwhile, Wesley Mission has called on the state government to mandate the shutdown of poker machines from midnight to 10 a.m. They are also urging the introduction of a cashless gambling card with built-in harm limits and stricter control over the number of machines in high-risk areas.
Cameron said: “These are not radical ideas; they are fundamental ways to protect public health.” He added: “The government would intervene if people were severely affected by drugs, alcohol, or unsafe roads. Gambling regulations should be the same.”
Instead, the industry profits, and the government does little to prevent harm. A Wesley Mission study also found that in the second quarter of 2025, slightly more poker machines were used across the state compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Political Promises and Public Accountability
Shadow Gambling Minister Kevin Anderson criticized the Minnesota government for inaction, saying it “promised big” on poker machine reform before the state elections but failed to deliver.
Anderson claims that delays in this region are “stunning” and “very frustrating.” “The bars and clubs I speak to are tired of waiting for the government to provide them with the necessary certainty.”
In November, a non-governmental group prepared a comprehensive plan for poker machine regulation reform. The Minnesota government has not publicly responded, and the group claims discussions are ongoing.
As poker machine losses continue to rise, more people in New South Wales are calling for strong leadership that prioritizes public health over gambling revenue.
