NSW pokies revenue to increase

Poker machine revenue in New South Wales (NSW) is expected to rise to €5.5 billion a year by 2029 according to new Treasury documents.

Australia.- New South Wales (NSW) Treasury documents show that poker machine revenue will increase to €5.5 billion a year by 2029. The next decade will see people of NSW gamble €51.9 billion on poker machines (pokies).

The NSW Treasury documents indicate that they will also collect €13.7 billion in gaming machine tax in that period. These numbers are surprising as last year a legislation came into force to cap the number of pokies.

Independent MP Justin Field, in charge of the office that analyses the documents, said that he was concerned that no other major political parties want to tackle the issue due to the revenue that the industry generates, The Age reported.

“Pubs will take a greater share of pokies’ profits over the next 10 years. There is a 50% profit increase expected from hotels by 2028, outstripping clubs. This growth coincides with a boost in political donations from the Australian Hotels Association. It also matches a huge shift in hotel ownership with big players gobbling up family-run pubs around the state.

“The recent Crown investigation and this explosion in poker machine profits highlight the capture of major parties by the gambling industry and their complete and historical failure to regulate gambling in the public interest,” Field said.

NSW pushes for responsible gambling

The New South Wales (NSW) Office of Responsible Gambling is developing new initiatives and has invested €800k in player protection measures.

New South Wales’ measures for responsible gambling include a new website to allow self-exclusion from gambling venues. The University of Sydney Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic developed it and adds to the existing programme. Currently, bettors can voluntarily exclude from venues, but it’s only related to in-person exclusion. The website will get funds worth just over €100k. 

“Just as technology is changing the way people gamble with the rise of online and app-based betting, it is also driving exciting new initiatives to support people to gamble responsibly,” New South Wales Office of Responsible Gambling director Natalie Wright said. “By funding programs and research projects like these, we will further develop and underpin the evidence base for responsible gambling policy and programs.”