Gamblers are shedding nearly $1 million each hour on NSW pokies, new knowledge reveals.
Data launched to Wesley Mission confirmed every day losses elevated to $23.7 million within the September quarter, up 11 per cent on earlier figures.
Wesley Mission CEO and playing reform advocate Rev Stu Cameron mentioned the losses had been obscene and cemented the necessity for actual and pressing reforms.
“More than $2 billion lost to pokies in just three months is unthinkable when people are struggling with escalating food, fuel and energy prices,” he mentioned.
“People experiencing financial hardship can be drawn into gambling, hoping for a win to afford groceries and pay the rent.
“However, any hope is an phantasm, and the predatory pokies business is positioned in each city and suburb to reap the benefits of individuals who could also be weak.”
Mr Cameron called for data on NSW’s 86,500 poker machines to be transparently published by venue at least every six months.
Liquor and Gaming NSW publishes biannual data on customer losses, taxes and pokies by local government area.
But profits made in each venue aren’t identified.
“If we all know which venues in every LGA are draining probably the most cash from clients, we will start to develop efficient responses,” Mr Cameron mentioned.
“Victoria is already doing it, which suggests they will see the place the hurt is occurring. It’s time we shone a lightweight on playing hurt in NSW.”
The new data will further pressure Premier Dominic Perrottet to release his proposal for a statewide mandatory cashless gaming card.
While promising it will happen, the premier says he will wait for a formal response to a Crime Commission report that exposed how billions of dollars in crime proceeds flow through pokies each year.
Some members of the Perrottet government, including the Nationals party, have baulked at mandating the cashless card.
Opposition Leader Chris Minns has promised a cashless card trial on 500 machines, whereas slashing the variety of machines statewide.
