NSW POKER MACHINE PROFITS SURGED AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Profits from poker machine gambling in NSW clubs surged despite the COVID-19 pandemic, State Government data obtained by the ABC has revealed.

Gamblers across the state lost $2.17 billion to poker machines in clubs from June to November 2020, up 7 per cent on the same period in 2019.

Punters in Western Sydney lost the most cash — in the Fairfield local government area (LGA), profits surged to $197 million, while in Canterbury-Bankstown they hit $187 million.

In Blacktown, pokie profits were up 16 per cent to $96 million, while in Penrith they increased 11 per cent to $68 million.

The 7 per cent statewide increase represents a major bounce back, after clubs in NSW were closed between March 23 and June 1 due to the state’s COVID-19 lockdown.

Western Sydney clubs accounted for a third of NSW net poker machine profits in the second half of 2020.

It’s the biggest year-on-year increase in the four years of available Liquor and Gaming NSW data.

Sally Gainsbury, the director of Sydney University’s gambling treatment and research clinic, said there could be several factors behind the bounce.

Among them was an increase in pandemic-specific government stimulus payments like JobKeeper and JobSeeker, and the fact some people who were out of work would have more time on their hands.

ClubsNSW, the body representing the interests of clubs across the state, said the 7 per cent lift in net profits was smaller than the bump experienced by other industries.

“A modest increase in gaming machine revenue … is not unexpected given the 10-week industry shutdown that preceded this period,” a spokesperson said.

“Club gaming profits in the period fell well short of the growth in overall NSW retail sales for the same period, which rose more than 10 per cent.”

Not everyone headed for gaming rooms when NSW’s lockdown ended.

“Our policy settings should be aimed at reducing and preventing harm from gambling and not at supporting an industry,” Kate da Costa said, a campaigner at the advocacy group.

“It’s not the misuse of gambling that creates harm, it’s using it as designed.

“Once we get that fundamental cultural change in the departments that regulate … I think we’ll get a better outcome in our community.”

 

This is an abridged version of a story first appearing at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-05/poker-machine-revenue-surges-in-nsw-and-western-sydney/13121448