Poker machine losses hit record levels in New South Wales
The third quarter of 2025 witnessed a record poker machine losses in New South Wales, Australia, with people losing an average of AUD 245 ($164.74) over the course of three months. Figures released by Liquor & Gaming New South Wales (LGNSW) show the result represents a 9 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024. The update comes as policymakers and regulators face growing pressure to strengthen harm-minimisation measures across the state.
Regional loss concentrations
Following the state government of New South Wales’ recent reaffirmation of restrictions on late-night poker machine operations, including a mandatory blackout period between 4 and 10 am, these figures were released in the context of increased regulatory scrutiny. These actions are a part of larger initiatives to reduce the harm caused by gambling, since losses are still rising in spite of current protections.
According to LGNSW data, Canterbury-Bankstown recorded the highest total poker machine losses during the quarter. Residents in the area lost a combined AUD 202.7 ($136.30) million, with the local adult population estimated at around 290,000. This equates to an average loss of approximately AUD 699 ($470.01) per adult over the three-month reporting period.
Fairfield recorded the highest losses on a per-capita basis. Despite having an adult population of around 155,000, total losses in the area reached AUD 187.7 ($126.21) million during the quarter. This translates to roughly AUD 1,211 ($814.28) lost per adult in just three months, placing the region among the most heavily affected gambling communities in the state.
Intensity of play under scrutiny
LGNSW noted that the rise in losses is not being driven by an increase in the number of electronic gaming machines. The total number of machines in hotels and clubs across New South Wales rose only marginally over the past year, from 87,632 to 87,839. The figure remains broadly comparable to the rest of Australia combined, highlighting the state’s outsized exposure to poker machines.
According to a report by the Grattan Institute, Australia’s position in the global gambling landscape continues to draw people’s attention. Although the country accounts for around 1 percent of the world’s population, it is home to an estimated 18 percent of the world’s poker machines, a factor frequently cited in discussions around accessibility and player risk.
Casino Beats quoted a spokesperson for Liquor & Gaming New South Wales (LGNSW) as saying, “The latest quarterly figures highlighted some of the larger spending is occurring in areas with fewer machines, demonstrating that it is not necessarily the number of machines that are the issue, but the intensity of play.”
Regulatory response and safeguards
In response to the record losses, the New South Wales government in December 2025 announced it would revoke long-standing exemptions that allowed some venues to operate poker machines outside the state’s mandatory 4 am to 10 am shutdown period, with the changes set to take effect from 31 March 2026. The measure is intended to curb extended play sessions and forms part of a broader framework aimed to limit gambling-related harm.
The state regulator has repeatedly warned that electronic gaming machines pose a higher risk of gambling-related harm than other forms of wagering. While the ANUpoll Gambling Participation in Australia 2025 survey estimates that 14.6 percent of Australians used EGM (Electronic Gaming Machines) in the past year, participation in lotteries was significantly higher, at 41.3 percent. Despite lower overall engagement, poker machines are widely regarded as presenting greater risks of addiction and financial distress due to their continuous, high-speed design.
Australia’s global gambling position
At the national level, Australia continues to rank as the world’s largest gambling loser on a per-capita basis. Research published by the Grattan Institute shows Australians lost an average of AUD 1,635 ($ 1099.37) per adult in 2022, significantly higher than the very losses recorded in other major gambling markets, including Hong Kong and Singapore.
The findings have intensified calls from advocacy groups for stronger regulatory intervention, including tighter controls on gambling advertising and further limits on machine availability. Casino Beats quoted Wesley Mission, a Sydney-based social welfare organisation, chief executive Rev Stu Cameron as saying,“With NSW breaking gambling loss records every quarter, it is time for real political courage”.
Stay in the loop and join the biggest iGaming Community in the world with SiGMA’s Top 10 news countdown. Subscribe HERE for weekly updates from the world’s iGaming authority and exclusive subscriber-only offers.
