Average loss per person tops AU$3,200 in Fairfield as critics condemn “policy paralysis”
The latest figures from Liquor and Gaming NSW, analysed by Wesley Mission, reveal a staggering AU$2.17 billion lost to poker machines across New South Wales (NSW) in the first quarter of 2025 alone—equating to over AU$24 million a day, or more than AU$1 million every hour.
For the first time, the report includes per-capita loss data by Local Government Area (LGA), showing the most severe gambling harm concentrated in vulnerable communities. Fairfield leads the state with an average loss of AU$3,255 per person, followed by Burwood-Strathfield (AU$2,511) and Cumberland (AU$2,180).
“Morally Indefensible”: Wesley Mission Slams Government Inaction
Reverend Stu Cameron, CEO of Wesley Mission, condemned the Minns Government’s lack of decisive reforms, calling the situation “morally indefensible”. He accused the government of succumbing to pressure from the powerful club and hotel lobby, describing their handling of gambling reform as “policy paralysis.”
“The Government is offering the gambling industry a gift of inaction, while families across NSW are bearing the brunt of rising losses and addiction,” Cameron said.
Calls for Immediate Reform Intensify
In response to the alarming data, Wesley Mission reiterated several key recommendations to curb gambling harm:
Mandatory machine shutdowns from midnight to 10 a.m.
A cashless gambling card system with pre-set loss limits
Machine caps and reduction mandates in high-risk areas
Despite overwhelming support from public health advocates, these measures have yet to be implemented statewide.
Regional NSW Also Suffers: Central Coast, Newcastle Hit Hard
While urban centres report the highest losses, regional areas are far from immune. Players on the Central Coast lost AU$83.9 million, while Newcastle recorded losses of AU$47.5 million in just the first 90 days of 2025. In total, 87,789 poker machines are active across NSW, making it one of the world’s most saturated jurisdictions for gambling machines outside of casinos.
NSW Audit Office Report Due 12 June
A performance audit by the NSW Audit Office, scheduled for release on 12 June 2025, is expected to provide a damning assessment of the current regulatory framework, potentially revealing long-standing enforcement gaps and failures to meet harm-reduction objectives.
Cameron urged policymakers to use the report as a catalyst for long-overdue reforms:
“We need a government willing to stand with families and vulnerable communities over profit-driven gambling operators.”
A State at Risk
With more than AU$8 billion projected to be lost statewide in 2025 if current trends persist, gambling harm remains one of NSW’s most pressing public health challenges. Wesley Mission continues to advocate for evidence-based intervention and is urging lawmakers to rise above political inertia to implement meaningful change.
