TLDR
- NSW Labor is set to debate a proposal at its July state conference to cut poker machine numbers from around 90,000 to 45,000 over the next decade
- The plan is backed by both left and right factions of the party, as well as the head of Unions NSW, Mark Morey
- Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne is leading the push, saying the public overwhelmingly wants action on poker machine harm
- The state government has already introduced reforms including a 6-hour mandatory shutoff window and reduced cash loading limits on new machines
- AUSTRAC last week ordered a Sydney club to appoint an external auditor over anti-money-laundering concerns tied to poker machines
The NSW Labor Party is preparing to debate a proposal that would halve the number of poker machines in the state over the next 10 years. The plan would bring the total down from roughly 90,000 to around 45,000.
The proposal is expected to be a priority item at the party’s state conference in July. It has gained support from across Labor’s internal factions.
Labor Factions Unite Behind the Proposal
Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne is leading the push. He has received backing from both the left and right wings of the party.
Mark Morey, the head of Unions NSW, has also thrown his support behind the plan. Morey said the lesson from recent years is that the number of machines needs to come down.
He added that venues with more than 20 poker machines should be regulated in the same way as casinos. Byrne said Labor members and the general public overwhelmingly want action to reduce harm from poker machines.
Byrne also said the issue is too important to be left only to the state parliamentary party. The broad support suggests the proposal has a real chance of advancing at the conference.
Most of the state’s poker machines are located in pubs and clubs. The debate in July is also expected to cover financial support for venues that would lose some or all of their machines.
That would be part of a broader discussion about how any transition could be managed. The state government has not committed to a statewide rollout of cashless gaming technology, despite recent trials.
Reforms Already Underway in NSW
Cashless gaming has been introduced at The Star Sydney and Crown Sydney casinos. However, a wider rollout across pubs and clubs remains uncertain.
The government has already put several other reforms in place. These include a standard 6-hour shutoff window between 4 AM and 10 AM, during which all pubs and clubs must turn off their gaming machines.
New gaming machines now have a reduced cash loading limit of AU$500, down from AU$5,000. The government has also introduced annual forfeitures of machine entitlements to gradually reduce the overall number in the state.
Political donations from clubs operating electronic gaming machines have been banned. Signs related to gaming inside club premises can no longer be displayed outside.
Venues with more than 20 gaming machine entitlements must now appoint responsible gambling officers. These measures were introduced ahead of the latest push to cut machine numbers in half.
The political debate comes as regulators are also increasing scrutiny. Australia’s financial crimes watchdog, AUSTRAC, last week ordered Bankstown District Sports Club in Sydney’s southwest to appoint an external auditor.
The order was made over concerns that the club’s anti-money-laundering controls may not be strong enough. Regulators are worried organized crime could exploit poker machines at the venue.
That development adds further pressure on clubs and pubs across the state. With Labor now preparing to debate a major reduction in machine numbers, the issue of poker machine harm is expected to stay in focus heading into the July conference.
