Media release
For immediate release 20 October 2026
Public trust plunges as Wesley Mission puts NSW Government on notice over pokies reform
Just 16% trust the government to stand up to gambling industry as 55 organisations back tougher laws
Launched as part of GambleAware Week, Wesley Mission’s strengthened seven-point Put Pokies in Their Place campaign comes as a new survey* reveals public trust in the NSW Government to stand up to the gambling industry has plunged from 35 per cent in May 2025 to just 16 per cent.
Backed by 55 organisations, the expanded reform platform will be unveiled today at NSW Parliament House ahead of the March 2027 state election.
Half of survey respondents believe the gambling lobby has too much influence on NSW politics.
Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, says the findings reinforce the need to prevent harm before it occurs.
“We cannot counsel our way out of gambling harm while governments fail to tackle its causes. Prevention must come first. Just 16 per cent of people trust the NSW Government to stand up to the gambling industry and deliver reform. That is a damniong verdict and a clear warning to every MP and would be MP in NSW.
The strengthened campaign calls for:
1. Mandatory midnight–10am shutdown of poker machines in pubs and clubs, seven days a week
2. Mandatory account-based gambling with binding loss limits and genuine safeguards
3. An independent statewide exclusion register operating across every pub and club
4. Stronger community rights to influence poker machine decisions affecting local neighbourhoods
5. Greater transparency through venue-level loss reporting and independent measurement of gambling harm
6. A legislated share of poker machine tax revenue returned to communities for prevention, treatment and wellbeing
7. A measurable reduction in poker machine numbers, particularly in communities experiencing the greatest harm
Rev Cameron says the strengthened platform demands greater accountability for gambling tax revenue.
“The government cannot keep collecting gambling taxes without taking greater responsibility for the harm. A fair share of that revenue must go back into prevention and community protection.”
Lived experience and gambling reform advocate, Kate Seselja, says, “We let the industry label people harmed by gambling ‘problem gamblers’ so that no one would look to reform the problem products and a problem industry. This systemic public health crisis can be prevented with appropriate consumer protections for products that are designed to addict and harm those who use them.”
Fellow lived experience and gambling reform advocate, Nelson Nghe, says, “You do not have to place a single bet to have your life devastated by gambling. Partners, children, families and friends are paying an enormous price for an industry that puts profits before people.”
With the March 2027 NSW election approaching, Rev Cameron says the government is running out of time to turn promises into action.
“Public trust is at rock bottom. The government has a choice: stand up to the gambling industry or stand by while more families pay the price.”
ENDS
Available for interview: Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, and lived experience and gambling reform advocates Kate Seselja and Nelson Nghe
Media contact: Anne Holt 0418 628 342 (preferred) or [email protected]
*The survey was conducted by The Insight Centre between 7 and 15 September 2026 with a representative sample of 700 NSW adults aged 18 and over. The sample was recruited using quotas representative of the NSW adult population by age, gender, region and education level.
