NSW Budget locks in pokies misery with more subsidies to clubs and even more pokies losses forecast - media release
The Minns Government has knocked any hope of gambling reform on the head in today’s state budget with tax concessions to clubs with poker machines totalling $1.252 billion, while revenue from taxes on poker machine losses having to be revised upward by a whopping $638.2 million over the forward estimates.
Meanwhile tax revenue from gambling is forecast to be $4.087 billion in 2026-27.
“This budget confirms that the Minns Labor Government has given up any pretense of wanting to reduce gambling harm,” said Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and gambling harm reduction spokesperson.
“The people of NSW are losing almost $10 billion a year to pokies yet the Premier and Treasurer are doing nothing to stem the losses. In fact, they are rubbing their hands in glee.
“It’s a disgrace that the budget forecast has even more money being given back to clubs in the form of ClubGRANTS while the Minns Government has sat on the review into this dodgy scheme for 18 months.
“Premier Chris Minns doesn’t care about the enormous pain caused by pokies addiction to families and communities across this state, In fact all he’s done since being elected is work with his mates in the gambling industry to rig the system and encourage people to gamble even more.
“Once again the state budget is giving millions in tax handouts to wealthy clubs, including using tax-payer funding for a clubs PR program - all while people are losing homes and families are falling apart as a result of pokies addiction. This Government has given up on pokies reform and has thrown the people of NSW to the gambling industry wolves,” said Cate Faehrmann.
Key points from today’s NSW Budget Papers:
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Gambling and betting tax revenue have been revised up by $86.5 million in 2025-26 and by $638.2 million over the four years to 2029-30 (4 - 6),
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Gambling and betting tax revenue for is forecast as $4.087 billion (4 - 5),
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Gambling and betting tax subsidies to clubs is forecast at a whopping $1.252 billion, and (C - 2)
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The ClubGRANTS rebate is forecast for $92 million (C - 18)