The third quarter of 2025 saw record losses from poker machines in New South Wales, Australia. People lost an average of AUD 245 ($164.74) in three months, a 9 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024. Figures from Liquor & Gaming New South Wales (LGNSW) show rising concern as policymakers and regulators face pressure to improve measures to reduce gambling harm.

Regional Loss Concentrations

Canterbury-Bankstown had the highest total losses during the quarter, with residents losing a combined AUD 202.7 million ($136.30 million). With about 290,000 adults in the area, this is roughly AUD 699 ($470.01) per adult over three months. Fairfield had the highest losses per person, where around 155,000 adults lost AUD 187.7 million ($126.21 million). This works out to about AUD 1,211 ($814.28) per adult, making it one of the hardest-hit gambling communities in the state.

The state government recently confirmed rules on late-night poker machine operations, including a blackout period from 4 am to 10 am, as part of wider efforts to reduce gambling harm.

Intensity of Play Under Scrutiny

LGNSW said the rise in losses is not because of more machines. The number of poker machines in hotels and clubs went up slightly over the past year, from 87,632 to 87,839. Australia has about 1 percent of the world’s population but is home to around 18 percent of the world’s poker machines.

A spokesperson for LGNSW told Casino Beats, “The latest quarterly figures highlighted some of the larger spending is occurring in areas with fewer machines, demonstrating that it is not necessarily the number of machines that are the issue, but the intensity of play.”

Regulatory Response and Calls for Action

In response to record losses, the New South Wales government announced in December 2025 that it would end exemptions allowing some venues to run poker machines outside the 4 am to 10 am shutdown, starting 31 March 2026. The aim is to reduce long play sessions and limit harm.

Electronic gaming machines are seen as riskier than other types of gambling. While 14.6 percent of Australians used EGMs in the past year, lottery participation was much higher at 41.3 percent. Even though fewer people play poker machines, they are linked to more addiction and financial problems because of their fast and continuous design.

Australia also ranks as the world’s largest gambling loser per person. Research by the Grattan Institute shows Australians lost an average of AUD 1,635 ($1,099.37) per adult in 2022, higher than losses in Hong Kong and Singapore. Wesley Mission chief executive Rev Stu Cameron said, “With NSW breaking gambling loss records every quarter, it is time for real political courage.”