Hundreds Of Pokies Exemptions Revoked Around NSW

More than 650 venues in NSW will need to close their gaming machines, or pokies, between 4am and 10am each day in reforms announced by the NSW Government.

The changes will be implemented from April first.

The six-hour shutdown is a harm minimisation measure intended to provide players with an important break in play.

Professor Sally Gainsbury, Director of the Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic at the University of Sydney said: “Evidence from international jurisdictions shows that reduced opening hours of gambling venues results in reduced spending associated with problematic gambling. Most people support longer shutdown periods which also reduce risks for staff related to disrupted sleep cycles, which can have long-term negative consequences for health and mental health.”

According to the NSW Government, of the 672 venues with a varied shutdown period, usually for three hours instead of six, many have been in place for more than 20 years. These were given for reasons including being in high traffic “tourist” locations, a history of earlier opening hours or financial hardship.

Venues that believed they had a strong case to keep their exemptions under the legislation and the revised Ministerial Guidelines, had the opportunity to put their case to Liquor & Gaming NSW.

As of 24 March 2026, 649 have been revoked by Liquor & Gaming NSW under delegation from the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority and 10 by the Authority itself. Thirteen venues remain under assessment. All venues will be considered and an outcome communicated by 31 March 2026.

Sixty-two venues applied to keep their exemptions. Of the 49 applications assessed so far, all have been revoked.

Liquor & Gaming NSW will undertake a compliance campaign after 1 April when the new requirements come into effect, to ensure all venues are abiding by the changes.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said that these changes are expected to prevent and reduce gambling harm.

“Following months of review, it was clear these variations enabling about 20 per cent of clubs and pubs with gaming machines to operate outside of the mandated hours, some of which were more than 20 years old, were no longer fit for purpose.”