Lyne MP Calls For Community Opinion Ahead Of Gambling Reforms

BY LIAM COLLINS

Proposed reforms on gambling advertisements has spurred Lyne MP Alison Penfold to call for community input. 

The Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2026, introduced to the Federal Parliament on Thursday, is looking to ban gambling advertising during live sport broadcasts, on sporting uniforms and at sports venues, as well as stronger protections for children online. 

The bill comes three years after the landmark 2023 Murphy review, a parliamentary inquiry spearheaded by the late MP Peter Murphy which sought to research the harms of online gambling and make recommendations.

Alison Penfold released a survey to residents of her electorate, asking locals what they thought of the proposed reforms.

She said we have to be careful of gambling advertising around a younger sporting audience.

"I've heard stories from teachers where kids aren't talking about the footy teams that are playing, they're talking about the odds of who's going to win, and that has real concern," she said. 

So far, her survey has highlighted a majority support for the reforms from its over 500 responses across the Lyne electorate.

Ms Penfold said the clear, straight-forward responses to the survey were incredibly helpful.

"People have certainly got strong views on this... these are very important matters," she said. 

"I really appreciate people telling me their stories, their family stories, the pain and suffering that comes with someone who's been addicted to gambling."

The responses will be used to construct her arguments on the reforms, once it's debated in Parliament in mid-August. 

The survey is available online and is open until July 24. 

Lyne MP Alison Penfold. 

Hunter Gamblers Lose $660 Million On Pokies

 BY OLI GOELDNER

Recent data from the state's Office of Liquor and Gaming revealed Hunter residents lost more than $660 million to poker machines last year. 

The figure comes following the release of the Office's final quarter summary for 2025. 

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie were found to be the biggest spenders, with Newcastle gamblers putting in $55 million into poker machines from August to September alone. 

Wests New Lambton raked in the most gambling profits in the Hunter throughout the year, ranking 20th in the state. 

The venue currently has 533 gambling machines. 

However, Muswellbrook and District Workers Club made the most profits per machine locally, ranking in at number 27 in the state, despite only having 61 gaming machines. 

Across NSW, gamblers lost more than $9.2 billion to poker machines, breaking records for the most in a single year. 

Greens MP and gambling harm minimisation spokesperson Cate Faerhmann said the figures are concerning. 

"It's clear that the Minn's Government's program of what they call gambling harm reduction isn't working," she said. 

"People in the Hunter are losing record amounts to the pokies and that's just extraordinary when you hear how tough people are doing it too. 

"We know that pokies are designed to be addictive and there's a lot of people out there who just can't help themselves when it comes to putting their money into poker machines.

"So something has to be done, we can't keep seeing record losses every single year, but that's the fact that we're seeing in NSW." 

Currently, Newcastle hosts 2,705 gaming machines across both clubs and hotels, with Lake Macquarie following closely behind at 2,472. 

"I think local communities should speak up about this because we're losing a million dollars an hour in NSW to poker machines," Ms Faerhmann added. 

"And, $660 million in the Hunter is dissapointing. 

"That's $660 million that isn't going into local businesses, families. 

"It's going to big clubs and it's a real crisis." 

Cashless Gaming Card To Be Trialed At Wests

BY JARROD MELMETH

Wests Newcastle and Aristocrat Gaming has struck a deal with the Minister for Customer Service to trial a cashless gaming card. 

The deal was announced on Monday morning by the Minister Victor Dominello who said the card will be able to be used for all services including poker machines.

"I support this digital proposal as it is linked to identity, a bank account and with harm minimisations settings.

"This will help us combat the twin sins of money laundering and problem gambling, addressing the key concerns of the Bergin Inquiry," Mr Dominello said.

Its the first trial of its kind and is raising concerns from local gambling counselling services who say the system does not have the interest of the community at heart.

Data from Liquor and Gaming revealed local pubs, clubs and hotels were making more money off poker machines in the second half of 2020 than in the first, despite fewer machines and pandemic restrictions.

Newcastle's clubs and hotels made a massive $40 million more in the latter half of 2020, while Cessnock profits jumped to 112 per cent.

Wests CEO Phil Gardner says the trail is about improving the experience and welfare of members.

"What this does is it links the capacity to get money onto your phone and puts the power back onto the phone.

"If I'm having a problem with gambling and I want to talk to someone, I have got to come into the club, I have got to go back to that environment and I have got to have a conversation.

"With the trial we are gonna run with the phone you can sit at home and set a limit and exclude yourself. You can talk to us and we will support you," Mr Gardner said.

Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello.

Wests CEO Phil Gardner.

Pandemic Triggers Surge in Gambling at Hunter Pubs and Clubs

BY DAKOTA TAIT

New data reveals Hunter pubs, clubs and hotels saw a surge in poker machine revenue in the second half of 2020, despite fewer machines being in use due to pandemic restrictions.

The latest figures published by Liquor and Gaming NSW showed an almost 9 percent rise in pokie profits statewide compared to the same period in 2019.

Liquor and Gaming NSW also noted that venues were closed for ten weeks from March to May due to the pandemic lockdown, putting a significant damper on profits in that period.

But venues across the Hunter quickly bounced back, with profits leaping 92 percent from July to December against the pandemic-affected first half of the year. 

Profits at Newcastle's clubs and hotels rose by over $40 million to over $87 million in the final six months of 2020.

Cessnock venues saw one of the biggest jumps in revenue, which rose by 112 percent.