NSW to switch on poker machines from June 1

From Monday, up to 50 people at any one time will be allowed in restaurants, pubs and cafes, paving the way for pokies to reopen.

Australia.- The state of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia will turn on its poker machines for the first time in months on June 1st when pokies venues reopen.

From Monday, up to 50 people at any one time will be allowed in restaurants, pubs and cafes, paving the way for pokies to reopen.

But some have raised concerns over the reintroduction of pokie machines and the risk of problem gambling.

Alliance for Gambling Reform Executive Director, Tony Mohr, says that NSW is going against federal government advice, which recommends high-touch and high-density activities should be some of the last to restart operations.

Mohr told AAP: “This is really about money before public health, I think it’s that plain.

“A lot of these clubs and pubs have become so dependent on poker machines, they want to turn the cash cows back on.”

It was recently announced in April that poker machine losses in Australia had already hit AU$1.5billion.