Newcastle is on track to lose around $250 million on poker machines this year as City Councillors prepare to consider practical gambling harm reforms.
On 28 July 2026 Deputy Mayor, Charlotte McCabe, will move a motion calling on Newcastle City Council to support stronger action to reduce gambling harm and endorse Wesley Mission’s Put Pokies in Their Place campaign.
The motion comes as new figures reveal Newcastle residents lost $52.1 million on poker machines during the first three months of 2026 alone. That is almost $579,000 every day flowing out of the local community.
Wesley Mission General Manager, Joel MacKay, says the figures demand action.
“A city on track to lose a quarter of a billion dollars in a single year cannot afford to keep delaying gambling reform. The evidence is overwhelming and the community is paying the price.
“Almost $579,000 leaves the Newcastle economy every day through poker machines. That is money that should be paying household bills supporting local businesses and helping families through the cost-of-living stress.”
The motion supports practical reforms including mandatory carded play with built in harm minimisation measures, powering down poker machines between midnight and 10 am, a statewide self-exclusion register, greater transparency around gambling losses and stronger community input into poker machine density.
In recent weeks councils, including Tweed Shire, Wagga Wagga and Lismore, have backed practical gambling harm reform. Newcastle, as one of the state’s largest regional voices, now has opportunity to join that growing movement.
“Councils see the financial hardship. They see the pressure on families. They see the growing demand for community services. What they do not have are the powers to regulate poker machines. Those powers sit with the NSW Government.”
Mr MacKay says one of the simplest reforms could begin reducing gambling harm immediately.
“Powering down poker machines between midnight and 10 am would protect people during the highest risk hours without closing a single venue. It is a practical and proportionate reform that puts people ahead of poker machine profits.”
More than 60 organisations have joined Wesley Mission’s Put Pokies in Their Place campaign calling for practical evidence-based reforms to reduce gambling harm across NSW.
Mr MacKay says Deputy Mayor Charlotte McCabe’s motion gives Newcastle the opportunity to send a clear message to the NSW Government.
“This is not about being anti-pokies. It is about protecting people from catastrophic gambling harm.
Newcastle has the opportunity to send a message that communities have had enough. It is time to put people first and put pokies in their place.”