More than 670 poker machine venues across New South Wales will lose their exemptions to operate after 4am, the state government has announced. The decision, revealed by gaming minister David Harris, ends the practice of allowing gambling 24/7 in some pubs and clubs, which had been permitted under outdated exemptions.
The change follows criticism from the government's independent advisory panel on gambling, a damning audit report, and political pressure from the Greens and Liberals. Research funded by the state government showed that poker machine players were significantly more likely to experience harm after midnight.
Harris stated that the 20-year-old exemptions were no longer fit for purpose. Venues have until 31 March to comply, though those with a strong case can appeal to the independent regulator under tougher conditions. The change ensures a minimum six-hour shutdown period, allowing gamblers to 'go home, get out of the zone, and reflect on their behaviour'.
About 20% of poker machine venues across the state had some form of exemption. The decision comes as analysis by Wesley Mission revealed that more than £1m is lost to poker machines every hour in NSW, with £2.3bn lost between April and June—an 8.8% increase on the same period in 2024.
Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron described the figures as a public health catastrophe. The auditor general had previously found that the government had not set targets to reduce gambling harm and was doing relatively little to assess venues' compliance.
