SA Greens Unveil Controversial Plan to Ban Pokies in Pubs and Clubs

Under the plan, the SA Greens want all pokie machines removed from pubs and clubs by 2030, leaving the Adelaide Casino as the only venue in the state permitted to operate pokies. They argue the phase-out would reduce gambling harm and shift venues toward more “community-focused” offerings, and they hope that the ban would ‘spread’ in other states and territories.

To soften the impact, the Greens are proposing a A$400 million transition fund over four years. This money would be available to pubs and clubs to renovate or expand their hospitality services, run more live events, or diversify into non-gambling entertainment, such as music or other events.

On paper, the fund sounds generous, but many bar and pub owners are already sceptical about the proposal and say it barely scratches the surface when compared to what pokies currently contribute to their yearly bottom line.

Alongside the ban, the Greens want to introduce several major tax changes. The most important one is a proposed 65% flat tax on all gaming machines, a rate that would make it extremely difficult for most venues to continue operating pokies in the years leading up to 2030 (until the full ban takes place).

They also want to raise the Betting Operations Tax to 30%, effectively doubling the tax on corporate bookmakers that service SA customers.

While the Greens frame this as a way to “capture more revenue from harmful industries like gambling,” critics argue it’s less about revenue and more about forcing pubs and clubs to abandon gaming long before the formal deadline.

Hospitality groups are already arming against the proposed ban and say the numbers don’t add up. If the tax rate makes pokies unviable almost immediately, the industry is facing a de facto, fast-tracked ban disguised as a tax increase.

The policy also includes a freeze on new pokies licences and an independent commission that would be tasked with running a large-scale licence buyback scheme. This would essentially remove thousands of pokie machines across the state and gradually lower the number of pubs and clubs that rely on the ever-important gaming revenue.

But with no detailed modelling provided, operators say it’s unclear how much venues would be paid to surrender their licences, or whether the buyback would genuinely compensate for the financial loss tied to removing pokies from their businesses.

For many pubs, especially in regional South Australia, the gaming revenue is the difference between staying open and shutting the doors.

Industry representatives and experts argue that the Greens’ proposal overlooks the extent to which gaming revenue is closely tied to the financial health of local venues. Pokies fund staff wages, kitchen operations, building upgrades, sponsorships of local sports teams, family attractions, and entertainment spaces.

Removing them without a realistic replacement risks more than just a drop in revenue. It risks hundreds, if not thousands, of job cuts, reduced services, and even venue closures, particularly outside metropolitan Adelaide, where pubs often serve as the main social hub.

There are also concerns about unintended consequences. If pokies disappear from pubs and clubs, there is a real possibility that more gamblers will turn to online casino sites regulated internationally.

Even some harm-reduction researchers have warned that bans tend to shift the problem rather than solve it unless supported by strong and long-term strategies – and the SA Greens’ proposal looks like anything but a strong and long-term strategy.