Published on: June 1, 2026, 08:50h.

Updated on: June 1, 2026, 08:50h.

• Australia’s gambling losses have surged to A$31.5 billion annually
• Advocates in NSW push for gambling machines to be disabled from midnight to 10am
• Late-night gamblers face a significantly heightened risk of gambling-related harm

The escalating concern over gambling-related harm in Australia is driving demands for more stringent hours of operation for slot machines in bars and clubs.

A movement aimed at shutting down these machines – commonly referred to as “pokies” – from midnight until 10am in New South Wales (NSW) is gaining momentum, as Australia once again reports the highest gambling losses in the world.

This trend is alarming but not unexpected. Australia has consistently held a top position for gambling losses per capita over the years. What’s particularly concerning is that these losses seem to be escalating at a rate quicker than inflation, even amidst the ongoing cost-of-living challenges.

Escalating Losses

In 2014, annual gambling losses in Australia were A$21 billion. Today, this figure has surged to A$31.5 billion, as reported by the Grattan Institute – exceeding the federal government’s annual expenditure on aged care.

The nation accounts for only 0.3% of the world’s population but holds 17% of the global non-gaming venue slot machines.

In NSW alone, players lost nearly A$9.3 billion on poker machines in 2025, marking the highest annual loss in the state’s history, with projections suggesting this trend will continue in the current year, according to the Wesley Mission, a faith-based nonprofit organization.

Right now in NSW, the only certainties seem to be death, taxes, and increasing poker machine losses,” stated Rev. Stu Cameron, CEO of the mission, in a recent conversation with Yahoo News.

According to NSW regulations, hotels and registered clubs are required to deactivate gaming machines between 4am and 10am each day, enforced by Liquor & Gaming NSW. As of April 1, 2026, over 650 venues are mandated to comply following the removal of their exemptions.

These exemptions had been in place for over two decades, granted due to reasons like tourism, historical early openings, or financial distress.

Nevertheless, campaigners assert that the critical late-night hours remain largely unregulated.

Hazards of Late-Night Gambling

A study by the NSW Office of Responsible Gambling revealed that late-night electronic gaming machine players are more prone to exhibit signs of problem gambling, with the risk escalating the later the gaming continues.

The research indicates that problem gambling rates were 3.1% among players active from 8am to 10pm, rising to 7.3% from 10pm to midnight, 12.1% from midnight to 2am, and soaring to 22.6% from 2am to 8am.

The NSW Greens have proposed an extended shutdown period, from midnight to 10am, asserting that the period post-midnight poses the highest risk for losses and associated harm.

Despite marked ideological differences, the Australian Christian Lobby has backed the Greens’ initiative, forming an unexpected coalition in support of gambling reform.