NSW stops night-time poker machines
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3 Dec 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes A major turning point has just been reached in the fight against the evils of gambling in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW). The government has decided to abolish the exemptions previously granted to pubs and clubs allowing them to operate slot machines throughout the night. From spring 2026, more than 670 establishments will be required to close their gaming rooms between 4am and 10am.
Why this reform is inevitable
For decades, certain pubs and clubs in NSW have benefited from exemptions allowing them to deviate from the all-night closing rule for gaming machines. These exemptions, often justified by difficult financial situations, tourist site status or traditional opening times, had been granted locally without serious questioning for years.
Recently, however, a number of worrying findings have prompted the authorities to take action. An audit report published in 2025 described the system for regulating gaming machines as ‘broken’. According to the report, the agencies responsible for overseeing gambling, notably Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&G NSW) and the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA), had put in place a regulatory strategy, but it was woefully ineffective in reducing gambling-related harm. The report criticised a lack of regular inspections, outdated conditions for certain licences and, above all, an extremely uneven distribution of gaming machines, with socio-economically disadvantaged areas being the worst affected.
Faced with these findings, growing pressure forced the government to review its position.
A firm decision: end of exemptions, mandatory night-time closure
On 1ᵉʳ December 2025, the NSW Government, through the Minister responsible for gaming, David Harris, announced the end of exceptions granted to clubs and pubs. In practical terms, more than 670 establishments will now have to close their gaming rooms at 4am, without exception. This reform will come into force on 31 March 2026, giving operators time to get organised. However, those who feel they have a strong case will be able to apply for an exemption, but this will now be subject to much stricter criteria and assessed by the independent regulator.
According to the government, this enforced break of at least six hours each day is intended to give gamblers time to “get out of the zone”, reflect on their behaviour and, potentially, reduce addiction.
The end of derogations is not an isolated measure. It is part of a wider plan to reform the gaming sector in NSW. By 2023, the government had already reduced the cash limit for new machines (from AUD 5,000 to AUD 500), capped the total number of authorised machines and banned all externally visible advertising on establishments.
And now: what are the expected effects?
From 31 March 2026, establishments in NSW will have to comply with a daily closure of machines between 4am and 10am. For gamblers, this means a mandatory break – a time to ‘get out of the zone’ and reassess their relationship with gambling. For the industry, it represents a reorganisation, possibly a loss of revenue, and no doubt a push for other activities (entertainment, catering, etc.) to compensate.
Beyond that, this reform could mark a cultural turning point: it is part of a more responsible approach that is aware of the risks of gambling. If successful – in other words, if it leads to a reduction in risky behaviour – it could serve as a model for other Australian states and even other countries.
The NSW Government’s decision to end exemptions allowing slot machines to operate at night in more than 670 pubs and clubs marks a historic turning point in Australia’s gambling regulation policy. Conceived as a public health measure, it is based on robust data and forms part of an overall plan to reform the sector. While it is an undeniable step forward in preventing gambling-related harm, its success will depend on how it is implemented in practice, on the framework of possible remedies and on the collective will to rethink the relationship with gambling.