The NSW government is revoking outdated exemptions that have allowed pubs and clubs to vary gaming machine operating hours, with the repeal taking effect from 31 March 2026.
The move ends long-standing exemptions affecting more than 670 pubs and clubs that had effectively operated pokies around the clock. Under NSW law, venues must shut down all gaming machines between 4am and 10am daily as a harm minimisation measure intended to provide players with an important break in play.
The decision represents a significant policy reversal. Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris said the 20-year-old variations enabling more than 670 clubs and pubs with gaming machines to operate outside mandated hours were no longer fit for purpose. The exemptions had been granted for various reasons, including venues in high-traffic tourist locations, history of earlier opening hours, and experiences of financial hardship, with many in place for more than 20 years.
A 2023 government report on electronic gaming machine late-night play showed 70.5% of EGM gamblers between 4am and 10am are classified as high-risk or moderate-risk gamblers. The Independent Panel for Gaming Reform recommended all existing variations to the minimum six-hour shutdown period be repealed to allow for a uniform shutdown period.
Venues that believe they have a strong case for an exemption will have the opportunity to apply to Liquor and Gaming NSW under revised Ministerial Guidelines, with any applications subject to a decision by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority. The government will work closely with venues to ensure an ordered transition.
The revocation sits within a broader gaming reform agenda. Since coming into office, the government has reduced the cash input limit from $5,000 to $500 for all new gaming machines and implemented other restrictions on advertising and political donations from clubs with gaming machines.
Industry observers note that the shift reflects mounting pressure from multiple quarters. The decision follows criticism from the government's own Independent Panel on Gaming Reform, the state auditor general, charities, and cross-party MPs. Recent data shows NSW residents lose roughly $1 million an hour on poker machines, or more than $2 billion in a single quarter.
The government has signalled that continued exemptions will be rare and subject to stricter public-interest tests. Venues that believe they have a strong case can apply, but any application will need to meet tougher guidelines and will be decided by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority rather than the minister.