Advocates Question NSW Government's Commitment to Gambling Reform
Anti-gambling advocates in New South Wales are expressing significant disappointment regarding the Minns government's recent state budget, which forecasts a substantial increase in revenue from poker machines. Critics argue that this projected surge in tax intake undermines the government's earlier commitments to implement reforms aimed at mitigating gambling harm.
Projected Revenue Increase Outpaces Inflation
According to figures released in Tuesday's state budget, the total annual revenue from all gambling taxes is expected to climb from $3.8 billion in the 2025-26 financial year to $4.7 billion by 2029-30. A key component of this increase is the revenue generated specifically from poker machines located in pubs and hotels. The budget predicts a 7.5% annual rise in this particular revenue stream, surpassing the rate of inflation. This means the government anticipates collecting $2.2 billion from pokies in 2029-30, a considerable increase from the $1.6 billion projected for the current financial year.
Advocacy groups contend that these financial projections indicate a reliance on gambling revenue that is inconsistent with a genuine effort to reduce the societal impact of problem gambling. They suggest that the government's financial forecasts demonstrate an addiction to pokies revenue, rather than a commitment to the promised reforms within the industry.
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