The New South Wales (NSW) government has scrapped its pre-election commitment to remove 9,500 poker machines from venues across the state, citing cost concerns and questioning the policy’s effectiveness in tackling gambling harm. Critics, however, argue that the real reason behind the backflip is pressure from the powerful gambling industry.
Before the election, key Labor figures, including now-Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, had pledged to slash poker machine numbers through buyback and forfeiture schemes over five years. However, during a recent parliamentary hearing, Gaming Minister David Harris revealed that the government no longer sees this as a viable solution.
Harris claimed that removing machines would cost AU$60 million with little impact on gambling harm. Instead, he emphasized focusing on reducing bet intensity and implementing harm minimization strategies.
This U-turn follows recommendations from an independent gambling policy panel, which included industry giants like Clubs NSW and the Australian Hotels Association, alongside social service organizations. The panel warned that a buyback scheme would be expensive and ineffective, raising suspicions about undue industry influence.
Opposition figures have slammed the decision as a broken election promise, accusing the government of siding with gambling interests over public welfare. While minor restrictions on gambling advertising have been introduced, reform advocates insist that without machine reductions, these measures are a mere distraction from real action against problem gambling.
