There are almost 90,000 poker machines in New South Wales, a gambling obscenity that can no longer be ignored, according to Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne. Writing ahead of the state Labor conference, Byrne calls for decisive action against the harm caused by poker machines, describing the moment as critical for the party.
Scale of the problem
NSW has the highest number of poker machines per capita of any jurisdiction on Earth. State-wide losses reached $9.3 billion last year and are on track to break $10 billion this year. The vast majority of people seeking help for gambling addiction cite pokies as the cause, with losses concentrated in working-class and low-income communities.
In Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown municipalities, losses for each community will soon top $1 billion annually. Byrne emphasises that those who suffer most are the people Labor was created to represent.
Political inaction and lobby power
Byrne argues that the extraordinary political power of the poker machine lobby has prevented governments from acting. He describes a playbook borrowed from the National Rifle Association, using scare tactics and threats to deter reform. Every proposal is met with warnings that clubs and pubs will close, jobs will disappear, and sports clubs will fold.
“We all know what has prevented governments from acting before now – the extraordinary political power of the poker machine lobby,” Byrne writes.
Growing public demand for change
Byrne notes that the people of NSW have had enough of politicians failing to act. Churches, unions, councils, and charities are calling for change. He argues that reducing machine numbers, turning them off for longer periods, and enforcing harm-reduction measures can make a difference while helping venues transition to better business models.
“The question for NSW Labor is not whether poker machines cause harm. We know they do. The question is whether we still have the courage to confront powerful interests when working people are paying the price,” Byrne concludes.
