Wesley Mission Calls for Urgent Reform
SYDNEY — Pokies losses in New South Wales have reached a staggering $9.3 billion in 2025, according to data released by NSW Liquor & Gaming. This marks the highest annual loss ever in the state, rising by 8% from $8.6 billion in 2024. The pokies losses NSW recorded highlight the ongoing gambling crisis that demands urgent attention.
The latest figures reveal that $2.45 billion was lost in the final quarter of 2025 alone, a trend that highlights entrenched gambling issues across the state. Wesley Mission CEO Rev Stu Cameron expressed concern over these figures, emphasizing the urgent need for government action.
“The loss of $9.3 billion in one year is a crisis that demands immediate attention from our leaders,” Cameron stated. “This is money taken from families and communities, leading to severe social issues such as domestic violence.”
Impact on Vulnerable Communities
The data indicates that gambling losses are particularly concentrated in Sydney’s western and southwestern suburbs, as well as regional areas already facing economic hardships. Local government areas like Canterbury-Bankstown and Fairfield reported some of the highest losses in the last quarter of 2025.
With 87,839 poker machines currently operating across clubs and hotels in NSW, the call for regulation is growing louder. Rev Cameron urged the NSW Government to implement reforms such as reducing poker machine operating hours and introducing a mandatory cashless gambling card.
“The incremental reforms are not enough. We need bold actions from our political leaders to prevent further harm,” Cameron added, referencing the delay in response to a report by the Independent Panel on Gambling Reform submitted over a year ago. The societal impacts of these losses are profound, affecting not just individual gamblers but entire communities. Experts argue that without significant policy changes, the situation may worsen, putting more families at risk and increasing the strain on social services. Advocacy groups continue to push for comprehensive solutions that address both the economic and social dimensions of the gambling crisis.
Source: newshub.medianet.com.au
Last updated: 30 March 2026, 2:07 pm
