New data released from Liquor and Gaming NSW, show losses from pokies continue to rise across the state despite a reduction in machine numbers, with losses from pokies in pubs increasing at a higher rate.
In Eurobodalla the Net Profit from 739 poker machines over 11 venues was $15,963,535.30 paying $2,327,579.16 in taxes. (This data was published by Liquor and Gaming NSW, the data from clubs collected between December 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019 )
Overall in the 2018/19 financial year NSW punters lost $6.5 billion which is a $162 million increase in losses compared to 2017/18
Losses from pokies in pubs were $2.5 billion from 22,612 machines with losses from pubs are rising at 6.3% p.a.
Losses from pokies in clubs were $4 billion from 68,808 machines with losses from clubs rising at 0.2% p.a
Independent NSW MP Justin Field said “These massive increases in gambling losses from poker machines shows the NSW Government's gambling harm minimisation policies are failing.
"This increase in gambling losses contrasts with flat lining wages and a generally sluggish economic and suggests the pokies profits for clubs and pubs is coming at the expense of many who can't afford it and increasing gambling harm in the community.
"The push for more profits from pokies is driving an unhealthy shift in the hotel industry in NSW. The big players are gobbling up family-run pubs and historic live music venues around the state and turning them into effective mini casinos. The hotel business is basically becoming a gambling business with food and drink on the side.
"The big poker machine owners like Woolworths, and the pub barons like Merivale, Solotel and Laundy are using favourable tax benefits for multiple hotel owners to take over more and more pubs across the state and further grow gambling profits.
“The new NSW gaming minister Victor Dominello needs to take a look at what is driving the ongoing increases in gambling losses from poker machines and the impact it is having on families and communities.
"For too long the gambling industry has influenced public policy for their financial gain at great expense to the community. The Minister needs to intervene and put the public interest first.”
