NSW to Remove After 4 AM Pokies Exemptions for 670+ Venues in Major Gambling Reform

Gaming Minister David Harris said that the new law just closes the loophole to align with NSW’s gambling regulations following the latest reports on youth gambling participation, especially in overnight gambling. For years, hundreds of pubs and clubs have held special approvals that let them run slot machines (popularly known as pokie machines) past the standard shutdown period, often as late as 6 a.m. or even 24 hours a day.

Under the new rule, every pokies room in NSW must switch off at 4 a.m. Certain venues may still apply for limited exemptions in exceptional circumstances, but approvals will be harder to obtain under the new regulatory process.

The change also follows new data showing that gambling losses in NSW reached A$2.3 billion in the April-June 2025 quarter, with late-night players accounting for the largest share of those losses.

The NSW Government released a research paper that shows that over 70% of people who gamble between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. are classified as high-risk or moderate-risk gamblers. Anti-gambling advocates say the shutdown will help reduce the harm experienced by those who gamble deep into the early morning, often while tired, under the influence, or chasing losses.

Wesley Mission supported the decision but said that the new rule is not enough and that it will advocate for an even earlier shutdown time, ideally starting at midnight. The organisation notes that the most intense gambling harm typically appears well before 4 a.m., so while the new rule is welcome, in large part, it’s meaningless.

The NSW Greens, who introduced a bill earlier this year calling for a midnight to 10 a.m. shutdown, also welcomed the move but said the government has not gone far enough. Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said that 4 a.m. is still “too late” to prevent the worst cases of gambling harm.

On the other side, hospitality industry representatives have warned that the new rule will affect regional clubs and pubs that rely on late-night gaming revenue. However, the government insists that the reform is much needed, proportionate, and based on strong evidence.

Some market analysts have also pointed out that restricting late-night pokies in New South Wales could unintentionally drive more people toward online gambling platforms, which operate 24/7 and are outside NSW’s direct regulatory control.

This new rule is just the beginning of the wider reform agenda introduced by the Minns government, which includes more regular, stricter audits and new oversight and regulatory mechanisms. Gambling experts say that closing the after 4 a.m. loophole shows that the government is willing to take more decisive action on pokies regulation.

Many of the exemptions (which will now be removed) date back to the 1970s and 1980s and were initially intended for specific venue types. However, they gradually created a massive network of pubs and clubs where pokies could be played almost 24/7.

All affected venues must begin their transition to the new shutdown window ahead of 31 March 2026. Although the rule states that the ILGA will still accept exemption applications, officials say they will be granted only in rare cases with substantial jurisdictional grounds.