Quarterly data for the last three months of 2022 reveal that the people of NSW lost $2.08 billion to poker machines in just 92 days with the heaviest losses concentrated in some of the state’s most disadvantaged communities.
The data from Liquor and Gaming NSW and analysed by Wesley Mission also reveals that total poker machine losses for the entire year reached a record $8.08 billion.
“$8.1 billion is $1000 lost for every person in our state in 2022. This is money that should have been helping families weather the cost-of-living crisis but instead has gone to propping up a harmful and predatory industry”, says Wesley Mission CEO and Superintendent Rev Stu Cameron.
“The pain of broken individuals and families and the harm caused to communities behind these numbers is immense. Losses of this scale underpin the urgency for sensible, proportionate and effective reform.
“It is vital now more than ever for the new NSW Government, and the opposition to come together in a genuine bi-partisan approach to enact reforms in this term of Parliament.”
Canterbury-Bankstown remains the local government area with the highest losses with $179 million dollars lost in 92 days or just under $2 million a day.
Pubs in every Sydney council area – bar two, posted annual record poker machine losses and almost 80% (79.4%) of Sydney Clubs reported their highest profits due to poker machines.
Cameron says, “Given this ongoing upward trajectory of gambling harm, NSW is experiencing a poker machine fuelled public health crisis that wrecks the lives of too many people.
“Wesley Mission sees the devastating 24/7 harm caused by these ubiquitous machines. It really beggars belief that any resistance to real reform could remain.
The data has also revealed some dramatic increases in losses in some rural and regional areas.
Albury-Greater Hume Clubs re-appeared in the top 10 Regional LGAs with losses for the 92 days of almost $19 million ($18, 924, 930) equating to $205, 706 each day for the quarter.
