Critics call for urgent action as gambling losses, tax revenue and helpline calls climb
A new report from the New South Wales Auditor General has delivered a stark warning about the state’s ability to reduce gambling harm, particularly from poker machines, revealing a troubling lack of benchmarks and performance measures to assess the success of existing policies.
Missing Metrics and Rising Harm
Despite repeated public commitments to reduce gambling-related harm, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport—which oversees gaming regulation—has no system in place to evaluate harm reduction outcomes. According to the Auditor General, the state lacks:
Benchmarks to measure success
Performance indicators
Outcome-based evaluations
This gap is particularly concerning given the consistent increase in gambling losses over the past three years, and the sharp 8.5% rise in calls to the GambleAware helpline in 2023–24.
Reform Targets Missed or Misleading
One of the stated goals under the Gaming Machines Act is to reduce the total number of machines in the state. While the NSW Government lowered the legal ceiling from 99,000 to 95,739 in late 2024, this change is largely symbolic—only 87,749 machines are currently in operation, meaning thousands more could still be legally introduced.
The audit further noted that machines are being removed at an average pace of 598 per year, which would take more than five decades to reach the national average ratio of machines per 1,000 adults.
Billions in Revenue, But at What Cost?
Forecasts show that poker machine tax revenue is set to rise from AU$2.47 billion in 2023–24 to AU$2.91 billion by 2027–28, fuelled by increased usage rather than reform. Meanwhile, some communities are reporting annual gambling losses of over AU$3,225 per adult, a figure that starkly illustrates the disproportionate harm in lower-income regions.
Mixed Progress and Mounting Pressure
While Gaming Minister David Harris defended the Government’s approach—pointing to new responsible gaming officer requirements, AU$100 million in harm reduction funding, a signage ban, and reduced ATM withdrawal limits—critics argue the pace of change is painfully slow.
A pilot program for cashless gaming, one of the most discussed reforms, attracted only 32 participants, raising questions about its design and execution. Furthermore, the Government has not formally responded to a 2023 reform report by an independent panel, despite public and sector expectations.
Unions and Charities Sound the Alarm
Unions NSW, along with gambling harm support services, have condemned the lack of urgency. The union’s secretary criticised the Government’s “administrative tinkering”, accusing it of stalling while vulnerable communities suffer the brunt of unchecked losses.
“The longer the Government delays adopting serious, structural reforms, the more lives and communities will be damaged,” said one charity spokesperson.
Conclusion: A Call for Accountability
The Auditor General’s findings highlight a core issue—a lack of evidence-based policymaking in a high-stakes public health area. Without measurable goals and transparent data tracking, NSW’s gambling strategy risks becoming more about optics than outcomes.
As pressure mounts, the Government now faces a crucial choice: either establish meaningful harm-reduction metrics and act on reform recommendations—or risk presiding over a gambling landscape where profit continues to eclipse public well-being.
