Wesley Mission, a charity advocating for stricter regulations on poker machines, has revealed alarming statistics regarding gambling losses in New South Wales (NSW). According to their analysis of state government data, NSW gamblers are losing an astonishing $24 million daily to poker machines, totalling $2.17 billion in the first quarter of this year. Communities in western Sydney are particularly affected, with average losses exceeding $3200 per person annually.
Rev. Stu Cameron, chief executive of Wesley Mission, has expressed deep concerns over the government’s inability to protect individuals from gambling-related harms. He criticises the government for being influenced by powerful clubs and hotel groups, stating that while vulnerable families suffer financially and emotionally, the government’s response remains stagnant. He describes this situation as “policy paralysis” and emphasises that the figures only partially reflect the broader impact of gambling addiction on families, especially on young children.
In response to the crisis, the NSW government has introduced reforms in 2023 aimed at curbing gambling losses. These changes include lowering the cap on gaming machine entitlements and reducing cash input limits on new machines from $5000 to $500, as well as banning external gambling advertisements. However, Cameron urges that more comprehensive measures are necessary.
He advocates for transitioning to a cashless gaming system and suggests imposing stricter operating hours for gambling venues, proposing a curfew from midnight to 10 am. Cameron argues that these recommendations are not extreme but rather essential public health measures designed to protect the community from the detrimental effects of gambling.