The Minns Labor Government in Australia is bringing in a major shake-up as it’s bringing in a six hour shutdown of gambling machines.
To bring this into reality, it’s revoking the exemptions that are enabling pubs and clubs to vary the hours their venues can operate gaming machines. This means, under the new law, New South Wales venues must shut down all gaming machines between 4am to 10am, each day of the week.
The government says this decision has come after “months of review and consideration,” with the Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris announcing that a repeal of variations will take effect from 31 March 2026 to provide venues with enough notice to adapt their business operations.
The reasoning behind the six-hour shutdown is a harm minimization measure which is intended to provide players with a break in play, so they go home and get out of the zone and can reflect on their behavior. The government says it will work closely with venues to ensure an ordered transition.
Government makes changes to NSW pokies venues to minimize gambling harm
There are many venues included too, with more than 670 having a varied shutdown period for a number of reasons. In a review last year, an independent panel recommended all existing variations of the minimum 6-hour shutdown period be repealed to allow for a uniform shutdown period, with a transition period for venues.
Minister Harris has acted on the findings within the review and the panel’s recommendation to repeal the variations, some of which have been in place for more than 20 years.
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris explained the new measure further: “The Minns Labor Government takes gambling harm minimisation seriously and these changes are a continuation of measures we are making to protecting people in NSW who are experiencing harm.
“Following months of review, it is clear the 20-year-old variations enabling more than 670 clubs and pubs with gaming machines to operate outside of the mandated hours were no longer fit for purpose.
“So I have acted to revoke these variations and update the application process, in a phased way so that venues can still make their case to vary their hours.”
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