Media release 16 November 2023
Pressure mounting to power down pokies after midnight while signage reform proves positive
With more than 80 percent (82.4%) of residents supporting a shut-down of the States 89,000 poker machines between midnight and 10am, the NSW Government and the state’s gambling industry face increasing pressure to continue delivering sector reform.
The second Community Attitudes Towards Gambling Survey, commissioned by Wesley Mission, found public pressure is intensifying for a cultural and commercial shift in pub and club operating models, with almost three quarters of people believing they should not rely on poker machines to cover costs.
Wesley Mission CEO and gambling reform advocate, Rev Stu Cameron, says poker machines remain the most dangerous form of gambling, in terms of the highest losses and risk of harm.
“Late night gambling numbers are dangerously high, with people identified as being at risk more likely to gamble between midnight and 8am. For Wesley Mission, this simply adds to the urgency for New South Wales to implement a shutdown of poker machines between midnight and 10am every single night – no more exemptions.
“We are encouraged by the government’s recent action on signage with the survey finding the 1 September 2023 enforcement of the external signage ban related to poker machines appears to have had an impact in preventing harm.”
Between a quarter and a third of people who gamble regularly on poker machines (at least once a month) say they are now less likely to enter a venue because of the removal of the signs.
Cameron says, “This demonstrates what appeared to be a simple reform – actually the enforcement of regulations already in place for more than two decades - can have real harm prevention and reduction outcomes,”
“With overwhelming public support (82.4%) for switching off the State’s 89,000 poker machines between midnight and 10am it would appear a logical next step in harm minimisation and reform, while we wait for the implementation of a universal, mandatory cashless gambling card.
“This survey tells us what the community attitudes are towards gambling and it’s abundantly clear that the people of NSW are now much more aware of the harm caused by poker machines and want to see real and effective change sooner rather than later.
“With one in three people knowing someone harmed by gambling, government and the industry must do better.”
ENDS
Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, is available for interview
For more information, please contact Anne Holt on 0418 628 342 or anne.holt@wesleymission.org.au
Survey findings below - pages 2 - 4
FastTracker Research for Wesley Mission
NSW community attitudes to gambling reform post-NSW election
Online survey of NSW adults (n=1007) conducted between 18 and 23, April 2023
Online survey of NSW adults (n=1000) conducted 05-10 October 2023
by FastTracker.com.au
|
Research suggests that gambling after midnight is associated with a higher risk of harm Do you support a proposal for all poker machine to be switched off from midnight until 10am? |
|
|
Not asked in April 2023 |
October 2023 |
|
No |
17.6% |
|
Yes |
82.4% |
|
Total |
100% |
|
What do you think would be the best intervention by the government? |
|
|
|
|
April 23 |
Oct 23 |
|
Introduce a mandatory cashless gambling card for all venues with daily, weekly and yearly loss limits locked in |
32.3% |
35.8% |
|
Introduce midnight closing for poker machine venues instead of 4:00am-6:00am currently |
22.4% |
26.6% |
|
A mandate for poker machines to play a negative sound after every monetary loss (April) Require poker machines to be silent (Oct) |
10.2% |
7.1% |
|
Make it simpler for people to self-exclude from all poker machine venues in the state instead of a just a maximum of 36 venues |
9.7% |
10.6% |
|
No need for intervention by the government |
7.5% |
8.6% |
|
Introduce cashless gaming trial of 500 poker machines is enough |
6.9% |
n/a |
|
Let local Councils have more of a say about extra poker machines being introduced into their area |
6.7% |
6.7% |
|
Other |
4.3% |
4.6% |
|
Totals |
100% |
100% |
|
Have you noticed that venues have taken down their external poker machine-related signage? |
|
|
Not asked April 2023 |
October 2023 |
|
No |
73.3% |
|
Yes |
26.7% |
|
Total |
100% |
|
Given the absence of this external signage, are you: |
|
|
Not asked April 2023 |
October 2023 |
|
Less likely to enter a venue to gamble on poker machines |
13.0% |
|
More likely to enter a venue to gamble on poker machines |
6.2% |
|
The signage does not influence my decisions |
43.5% |
|
I do not gamble on poker machines |
37.3% |
|
Total |
100.0% |
|
Intention to enter venues without signage vs gambling frequency |
|||||
|
|
Never |
Less than once a year |
Several times a year |
More than once a month |
More than once a week |
|
Do not gamble on poker machines |
65.7% |
19.9% |
5.6% |
|
|
|
Less likely to enter |
6.7% |
13.6% |
20.2% |
25.3% |
28.2% |
|
More likely to enter |
2.9% |
7.3% |
5.6% |
18.4% |
17.9% |
|
Signage does not influence |
24.7% |
59.2% |
68.5% |
56.3% |
53.8% |
|
Totals |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
|
Do you have a colleague, family member or friend who has been harmed by playing poker machines? |
||
|
|
April 2023 |
October 2023 |
|
No |
68.8% |
54.6% |
|
Yes |
31.2% |
31.5% |
|
Don’t know |
|
13.9% |
|
Totals |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
Are you more likely to visit clubs with or without pokies? |
||
|
|
April 2023 |
October 2023 |
|
Clubs without poker machines |
67.3% |
69.1% |
|
Clubs with poker machines |
32.7% |
30.9% |
|
Totals |
100.0% |
100% |
|
Like many issues, there is an annual awareness week for gambling harm What do you think the best name should be for that week? |
|
|
Not asked April 2023 |
October 2023 |
|
Gambling Harm Awareness Week |
35.5% |
|
Responsible Gambling Awareness Week |
33.3% |
|
GambleAware Week* |
19.1% |
|
Safer Gambling Week |
12.1% |
|
Total |
100% |
*This is the current name, chosen by the gambling industry in NSW and adopted by the previous NSW Government
ENDS
Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, is available for interview
For more information, please contact Anne Holt on 0418 628 342 or anne.holt@wesleymission.org.au