Gamblers now losing more than $1m an hour on NSW poker machines

“The government needs to ask itself – are they here to serve the people of NSW or protect the profits of pubs and clubs?”

In the last three months of 2024, gamblers in NSW lost on average over $1 million an hour playing poker machines – or $24,601,472 a day.

Cameron said this “steep increase” in loses in the last 12 months was “deeply concerning”.

“There is no clear reason for this damaging rise though it is reasonable to assert that a ruthlessly efficient, harm causing industry continues to perfect their business models that wreak havoc across NSW,” Cameron said.

A spokesman for Gaming Minister David Harris said reducing gambling harm was fundamentally about changing behaviour, and the government was considering recommendations from the independent panel on gaming reform, which included cashless, account-based gaming.

“These are complex reforms to address gambling harm through evidence-based policy, that gets the balance right,” he said.

“We know it will take time for our reforms to show an impact.”