The New South Wales Labor Party will vote on a proposal to cut the number of poker machines across the state by 50 per cent at its annual State Conference in July. The motion aims to remove at least 45,000 machines over the next decade as concerns grow over rising gambling losses and social harm linked to electronic gaming machines.
The proposal was introduced by Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne, who said the current level of poker machine gambling in New South Wales is causing serious financial and social problems for communities across the state.
Plan targets 45,000 machines
New South Wales currently has around 87,000 poker machines operating in pubs and clubs. Under the proposed plan, the number would be reduced by half over a 10-year period, according to Sky News.
Byrne confirmed on Monday that he would bring the motion before the NSW Labor Annual State Conference. The proposal calls for a significant reduction in poker machines and also includes support measures for venues that rely heavily on gambling revenue.
According to Byrne, the motion aims to address what he described as “preventable misery” linked to gambling harm in local communities.
World’s highest machine counts
New South Wales has the highest number of poker machines per capita outside major casino destinations such as Macau and Las Vegas.
The state’s machine count is far higher than other Australian jurisdictions. Victoria has fewer than 30,000 poker machines, while pubs and clubs in Western Australia are not permitted to operate the machines.
The debate around poker machine reform has remained active in Australia for several years, with community groups and political figures raising concerns about gambling-related debt, addiction and financial pressure on households.
Gambling losses continue to rise
The motion comes at a time when gambling losses in New South Wales are increasing. Figures cited by Byrne show that annual poker machine losses in the state have risen from AU$8 billion ($5.73 billion) to more than AU$9 billion ($6.45 billion) over the past year.
“The human cost inflicted by poker machines in NSW cannot be swept under the carpet any longer,” Byrne said in a statement.
He also said that many gambling losses come from working class and lower income communities, adding that these groups are facing growing financial pressure.
The increase in losses has intensified calls for stricter gambling controls and stronger consumer protection measures across the state.
Support plan for pubs and clubs
Alongside the proposed reduction in poker machines, the motion includes plans for government-funded support programmes aimed at helping pubs and clubs transition away from gambling income.
The proposal suggests venues could expand live entertainment, music and community activities as alternative revenue sources.
Clubs and hospitality venues in New South Wales have historically relied on poker machine revenue as a major part of their business model. Industry groups have previously argued that rapid reductions in machine numbers could affect jobs, venue operations and community funding linked to club activities.
The outcome of the July conference vote could influence future gambling policy discussions within the state government and shape wider debate around gaming reforms in Australia.
If approved at the conference, the proposal would mark one of the largest planned reductions of poker machines in New South Wales history.
Facial recognition standards
Recently, authorities in New South Wales recently took another step toward tighter oversight of gambling venues. Liquor & Gaming NSW, the regulator responsible for licensing, supervision, and compliance across venues with alcohol, entertainment, and gaming machines, published a Code of Practice for the use of facial recognition technology in hotels and clubs.
The document targeted hotels and clubs with gaming machines and provided guidance for venues that already used facial recognition or were considering introducing it. Although the code was not legally binding and instead served as voluntary practical guidance, it became significant for the market as the first detailed standard outlining how the state viewed the acceptable use of biometrics in gambling environments.
The publication had not come as a surprise given the broader regulatory context. During the summer of 2025, the state government acknowledged that its cashless gaming machine trial had failed and stated that it was considering facial recognition technology as a tool to identify offenders and improve safety in gambling venues. The code was also seen as an interim step toward broader reforms, including the future introduction of mandatory facial recognition systems linked to a statewide exclusion register.
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