New South Wales is closing a decades-old loophole that allowed more than 670 venues to operate poker machines beyond 4am. From 31 March 2026, all pubs and clubs will be required to shut down their gaming machines between 4am and 10am daily, ending 24/7 access in what the government calls a critical move to reduce player-harm.
NSW removes decades-old pokies exemption
For years, certain venues were granted exemptions from the six-hour shutdown rule. Some were classed as tourist hotspots. Others claimed financial hardship. But those justifications no longer hold up. The government has now revoked the exemptions and introduced a transition window for affected operators to comply.
About 20% of venues in NSW were exploiting these outdated permissions. The state’s Gaming Minister said many were granted over 20 years ago and have remained in place without proper review. Officials insist the uniform closure will offer gamblers a break in play and a chance to reset.
Early-morning gambling linked to higher player risk
Research backed by the state government shows that gamblers who play during the early morning hours are far more likely to suffer harm. Between 4am and 10am, over 70% of players were classified as high or moderate risk. That period has become a focal point for reform efforts, with advocates calling it one of the most dangerous windows for compulsive gambling.
The state’s independent advisory panel echoed that conclusion in its reform roadmap. It recommended a universal 4am shutdown to ensure all venues were applying the same standard of risk minimization.
Poker machine losses and political pressure
NSW has nearly 90,000 poker machines, second only to the U.S. state of Nevada. Gambling losses in the state are staggering, with more than $1 million lost to pokies every hour. In just one quarter this year, total losses reached $2.3 billion. That’s nearly 9% higher than the same period last year, despite a number of reforms already in place.
Advocates say these losses represent more than just financial harm, they point to mounting social and psychological consequences for vulnerable communities. That pressure has translated into political action. The Greens, the Liberals, and even conservative groups have recently aligned behind the push to close the late-night loophole.
New shutdown rule fits into wider Minns government reforms
The pokies shutdown comes as part of a broader reform package introduced by the Minns government. Changes already in effect include a lower cash input limit for new machines, tighter caps on statewide machine numbers, bans on political donations from gaming clubs, and new rules around signage and advertising.
Venues with larger machine counts must now appoint responsible gambling officers and maintain internal registers for gambling incidents. And regulators are actively developing a statewide exclusion register backed by facial recognition technology, giving problem gamblers more ways to self-ban.
While critics say the government was slow to act, officials have defended their approach, citing the need to balance public health with the economic contributions of the industry. With this new shutdown policy in place, the state is aiming to reset that balance, and start a broader culture shift around late-night gambling.
References:
- NSW Government ends late-night pokies exemptions – https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/pokies-to-shut-down-from-4am-to-10am
- NSW gaming reform panel outlines 4am shutdown recommendation – https://www.nsw.gov.au/office-of-gaming-policy/gaming-reform-independent-panel
- Liquor & Gaming NSW updates gaming machine shutdown rules – https://www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/operating-a-business/gaming-pokies/operating-responsibly/shutdown-periods
- NSW Government announces next stage of gambling reforms – https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/next-stage-of-gambling-reforms
