{"id":777044484,"date":"2026-07-06T08:46:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T11:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/?p=777044484"},"modified":"2026-07-06T08:48:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T11:48:27","slug":"labour-backs-tougher-gaming-machine-reforms-in-new-south-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/asia-pacific\/labour-backs-tougher-gaming-machine-reforms-in-new-south-wales","title":{"rendered":"Labour to propose tougher gaming machine reforms in New South Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The party has endorsed a policy that would see fewer poker machines, higher taxes on large operators and mandatory facial recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Australia.- New South Wales Labour<\/strong> has adopted a stronger position on gaming machine reform ahead of next year’s state election. Approved unanimously at the party’s annual conference, the policy includes a commitment to “decisive action” through a combination of tax, regulatory and responsible gambling measures in Australia’s largest gaming machine market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the proposals are a moratorium on new licences, higher taxes for clubs generating more than AU$20m (US$13,8m) in annual gaming machine profits, and a plan to significantly reduce the number of machines in the state over the next decade. Some 50 per cent of machines transferred between venues would be permanently removed from operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reform package would also include the introduction of mandatory facial recognition technology<\/strong> in every gaming room to support New South Wales’ statewide self-exclusion register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New South Wales has almost 88,000 authorised gaming machines<\/strong>, known locally as poker machines. That’s around half of all the machines in Australia. Most are located in pubs and clubs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The proposals reflect growing pressure within the Labour Party to strengthen gambling regulation. Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne<\/strong>, one of the leading advocates of the reforms, told delegates that the momentum for poker machine reform had become “unstoppable” and argued that governments must prioritise reducing gambling-related harm over industry interests.<\/p>\n\n\n