With more than 80 percent (82.4%) of residents supporting a shut-down of the States 89,000 poker machines between midnight and 10am, the NSW Government and the state’s gambling industry face increasing pressure to continue delivering sector reform.
The second Community Attitudes Towards Gambling Survey, commissioned by Wesley Mission, found public pressure is intensifying for a cultural and commercial shift in pub and club operating models, with almost three quarters of people believing they should not rely on poker machines to cover costs.
Wesley Mission CEO and gambling reform advocate, Rev Stu Cameron, says poker machines remain the most dangerous form of gambling, in terms of the highest losses and risk of harm.
“Late night gambling numbers are dangerously high, with people identified as being at risk more likely to gamble between midnight and 8am. For Wesley Mission, this simply adds to the urgency for New South Wales to implement a shutdown of poker machines between midnight and 10am every single night – no more exemptions.
“We are encouraged by the government’s recent action on signage with the survey finding the 1 September 2023 enforcement of the external signage ban related to poker machines appears to have had an impact in preventing harm.”
Between a quarter and a third of people who gamble regularly on poker machines (at least once a month) say they are now less likely to enter a venue because of the removal of the signs.
Cameron says, “This demonstrates what appeared to be a simple reform – actually the enforcement of regulations already in place for more than two decades – can have real harm prevention and reduction outcomes,”
“With overwhelming public support (82.4%) for switching off the State’s 89,000 poker machines between midnight and 10am it would appear a logical next step in harm minimisation and reform, while we wait for the implementation of a universal, mandatory cashless gambling card.
“This survey tells us what the community attitudes are towards gambling and it’s abundantly clear that the people of NSW are now much more aware of the harm caused by poker machines and want to see real and effective change sooner rather than later.
“With one in three people knowing someone harmed by gambling, government and the industry must do better.”
