The Minns Labor government of New South Wales, Australia, is to revoke “outdated” exemptions which allow pubs and clubs to vary the hours they can operate gaming machines.
The government has given notice that the repeal will take effect from March 31, 2026.
The law states that all NSW venues should shut down all gaming machines between 4am and 10am every day, though a significant number of venues do have a varied shutdown period.
In 2024, Liquor & Gaming NSW released a report titled A Review of Gaming Machine Shutdown Hours, which found that a minimum six-hour shutdown period starting no later than 4am was effective at minimising gambling harm. It also found “no evidence to justify changing the start time of extending the length of the shutdown hours.”
Any venue which believes it has a case for exemption will need to present it to Liquor & Gaming NSW, meeting new, tougher guidelines.
“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,” said the minister for gaming and racing David Harris.
“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.
“The NSW government will continue to deliver evidence-based reforms to ensure we are striking the balance of addressing gambling harm while supporting an industry that contributes billions to the NSW economy and employs more than 150,000 people.”