---
title: Newcastle Council adds regional weight to gambling reform
description: Newcastle City Council supports gambling reform to reduce harm, highlighting community demand for change as local losses reach $250 million this year.
---

[Media releases ](https://www.wesleymission.org.au/about-us/media-releases)

# [Newcastle Council adds regional weight to gambling reform](https://www.wesleymission.org.au/about-us/media-releases/newcastle-council-adds-regional-weight-to-gambling-reform)

 Written by [Admin](https://www.wesleymission.org.au/about-us/media-releases/author/admin) | Jul 30, 2026, 12:43:19 AM

Wesley Mission welcomes Newcastle City Council’s decision to support practical gambling harm reduction measures adding regional weight to the growing call for evidence-based poker machine reform across New South Wales.

 

The successful motion, moved by Deputy Mayor Charlotte McCabe, sees one of New South Wales’ most influential regional councils join a growing number of local governments calling for practical reforms to reduce gambling harm.

 

Wesley Mission General Manager, Joel MacKay, says Newcastle’s decision sends a powerful message to the NSW Government.

 

> “Communities have had a gutful of gambling harm. When a regional council like Newcastle backs reform it sends a powerful message that the appetite for change is growing across New South Wales.”

 

The decision comes as Newcastle residents are on track to lose around $250 million on poker machines this year.

Mr MacKay says councils see the impact of gambling harm in their communities every day.

> “Councils see the financial hardship. They see the pressure on families and community services. They are asking a simple question. If practical reforms can reduce gambling harm why are we still waiting?”

The motion supports practical reforms including mandatory carded play with built-in harm minimisation measures, a statewide self-exclusion register, greater transparency around gambling losses and powering down poker machines between midnight and 10 am.

> “This is not about being anti-pokies. It is about putting people first and reducing preventable gambling harm.”

More than 60 organisations have joined Wesley Mission’s Put Pokies in Their Place campaign advocating for practical evidence-based gambling reform across New South Wales.

Mr MacKay says,

>  “Every council that backs reform adds momentum for change. Communities have had a gutful of gambling harm. It is time to put people first and put pokies in their place” 

[View full post](https://www.wesleymission.org.au/about-us/media-releases/newcastle-council-adds-regional-weight-to-gambling-reform)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Admin"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-07-30T00:43:19.569Z",
  "datePublished" : "2026-07-30T00:43:19Z",
  "headline" : "Newcastle Council adds regional weight to gambling reform",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 60,
    "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
    "width" : 60
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.wesleymission.org.au/about-us/media-releases/newcastle-council-adds-regional-weight-to-gambling-reform",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "Media releases"
  }
}
```