Major Crackdown on 24/7 Poker Machine Operations
The New South Wales government has announced a sweeping reform that will see more than 670 poker machine venues stripped of their ability to operate after 4am, effectively ending 24-hour gambling in the state. Gaming Minister David Harris confirmed the decision, describing the longstanding exemptions as "outdated" and no longer acceptable in addressing what campaigners call a "public health catastrophe."
Research Reveals Night-Time Gambling Dangers
The policy shift follows compelling state government-funded research that demonstrated poker machine players face significantly higher risks of harm during late-night sessions. The study revealed that 70% of people gambling between 4am and 10am were classified as high-risk or moderate-risk gamblers, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
Minister Harris emphasised that the changes would ensure compliance with minimum six-hour shutdown periods, allowing gamblers to "go home, get 'out of the zone', and reflect on their behaviour." The 673 affected clubs and pubs have been given until 31 March to adapt to the new regulations.
Political Pressure and Public Health Concerns
The decision comes after mounting pressure from multiple fronts, including the government's own independent advisory panel on gambling, a damning audit report, and political advocacy from both the Greens and Liberals. The conservative Australian Christian Lobby had also thrown its support behind a private member's bill from NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann calling for the exemptions' removal.
Michelle Pearse, CEO of the Australian Christian Lobby, stated that "the fact that these exemptions have not been reviewed in 20 years is unacceptable when you think about the social cost."
The financial scale of the problem is staggering. According to analysis by charity Wesley Mission, more than $1 million is lost to poker machines every hour in NSW, with $2.3 billion lost between April and June alone - an 8.8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron described these figures as evidence of a "public health catastrophe" and urged stronger government action. The state's auditor general had previously criticised the NSW government for failing to set targets to reduce poker machine harm and doing "relatively little" to assess whether venues were preventing gambling harm.
While venues believing they have a "strong case" for maintaining exemptions can appeal before the March deadline, they will face tougher conditions imposed by the state's independent regulator. The government has indicated that the 4am closure time remains appropriate, despite some calls for an earlier 2am shutdown.
