CLARENCE POKIE PROBLEM

Recent data revealed the Clarence Valley LGA is no exception, with locals pouring more than $20 million into gaming machines in the six months to the end of December 2022.

This is despite the costof-living crisis hitting families and individuals hard in the region. The latest data from Liquor and Gaming NSW shows that pokie profits across the state have rebounded from pre-pandemic levels, with NSW clubs and hotels recording a total of $8.1 billion in profits in 2022.

In the Clarence Valley Local Government Area, gaming machines across 11 clubs and 18 hotels contributed more than $20 million to this figure. The data revealed that the Grafton District Services Club had the highest pokie profits of any club in the Clarence Valley LGA, with 128 gaming machines generating $12,925,359.00 between June 1 and November 30, 2022.

Hotels in the same LGA saw the Grafton Hotel make the most profit, with its 20 gaming machines earning $7,659,248.00.

The City of Sydney Local Government Area recorded the highest profit of any LGA in NSW, with 3021 gaming machines in 159 hotels generating $176,805,287.00.

Wesley Mission CEO Stuart Cameron said gambling was an attempt to pay rent and buy groceries with winnings for those who were struggling financially. MP’s in NSW have said the high pokie profits were a mandate for cashless gaming to be introduced, with the Minns Labor Government committing to a 12-month trial of cashless gaming cards for 500 poker machines from July 1.

Overall, NSW Clubs have 86,568 poker machines which saw $2.18 billion lost in the third quarter of 2022, with daily losses of $23.7 million in NSW. This data shows the high cost of gambling to the community, both financially and emotionally, and highlights the need for greater gambling reform in the state.