New South Welshmen Lost A$2.45 Billion on Pokie Machines in Three Months

According to the report, the suburbs that lost the most money on pokies were mostly lower-income areas:

• Canterbury‑Bankstown: $202.7 million
• Fairfield: $187.7 million
• Cumberland: $140.4 million
• Blacktown: $110.5 million
• Sydney: $109.3 million

These figures show that people in areas that can least afford it are usually the people who play pokies the most. Advocacy groups have long argued that gambling harms hit lower-income areas hardest, and the latest numbers make that case even stronger.

Even though the government introduced some changes in 2025, losses haven’t slowed. For example, over 670 pubs and clubs in NSW were required to turn off pokies by 4 a.m., closing a loophole that had allowed late-night gambling.

However, L&GNSW says the rise in losses has not slowed down the trend, and the rise isn’t just about when players can play pokies. The state also saw a slight increase in the number of poker machines, from 87,632 to 87,839, meaning more pokies were available to players. Add that to how often people are playing, and the total losses keep growing.

High-risk players have been a particular concern in Australia in recent times, and the new report further fuels this debate. Advocacy groups estimate that a relatively small group of gamblers accounts for a large share of losses, so a spokesperson for L&GNSW said that tackling addiction should be a priority.

Critics argue, however, that the current approach doesn’t address the bigger problem: how pokies are designed and promoted to keep players gambling.

It’s important to note that the $2.45 billion in losses only accounts for pokies in pubs and clubs, as online pokies aren’t included in these figures. In fact, many Australians now play pokies from home, which means that the total amount spent on pokies in NSW is actually higher than the report suggests.

Online pokies also operate under different rules and monitoring systems, which makes it harder to track losses compared with pokie machines in land-based venues. Analysts say that while brick-and-mortar losses remain high, online platforms are taking a growing share of gambling activity, so the effect of the new law banning pokies after 4 a.m. is likely minimal.

The latest numbers continue a trend of high pokie losses in NSW. In 2024, total losses reached $8.64 billion, with western Sydney and other working-class suburbs again topping the list.

Some of the promised reforms, such as pre-commitment systems and machine reductions, have either been delayed or scaled back by both local and national governments, and the trend is likely to continue.

Looking ahead, pokies are expected to remain a big part of the gambling scene in 2026, with thousands of machines still widely available across pubs and clubs. While regulators may tweak the rules or working hours, most players probably won’t notice major changes to how they play.